大象传媒

The uprising that occurred after George Floyd, a Black Minneapolis resident, was killed in May by Derek Chauvin, a White Minneapolis police officer, touched every U.S. state and numerous cities worldwide. Demonstrators who took to the streets in support of Black lives were more often than not met with first-hand experiences of the police brutality they were protesting. And while many cities saw ongoing demonstrations throughout the summer, protesters in Portland, Oregon, sustained more than 100 days of continuous demonstrations, pausing only when wildfires statewide created toxic air conditions in the city.

Sustaining a movement at such scale and duration requires substantial infrastructure, which in Portland emerged from autonomous organizing, deep networks of mutual aid, and a collective commitment to redefining and prioritizing community safety. As Portland鈥檚 protests evolved, 大象传媒 sought to document this infrastructure, and the challenges of organizing around demands for justice being led by Black people. 大象传媒 solutions reporter Isabella Garcia, a resident of Portland, spent months on the ground with protesters, organizers, and community members to understand how the movement emerged and sustained itself, how local and federal law enforcement responded, and what Portlanders hope to accomplish going forward.

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Inside Portland鈥檚 Autonomous Protest Movement

Portland, Oregon鈥檚 five months of ongoing protests in support of Black lives are sustained by a vast, multifaceted, and ever-evolving network of activists, organizers, and mutual aid.

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How Portland Protesters Keep Each Other Safe

鈥淧rotesting ultimately isn鈥檛 safe and we鈥檙e not trying to say that it is,鈥� says one Portland street medic. 鈥淏ut that doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 take care of each other.鈥�

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What Comes Next for Portland鈥檚 Protests?

After more than 100 days of continual demonstrations, protesters in Portland are looking to the future鈥攁nd each other鈥攆or ways to sustain their movement for Black lives.

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Video: Lessons From Portland鈥檚 Protest Movement

Portland organizers and volunteers offer an inside look at the infrastructure that supports the city鈥檚 ever-evolving movement for Black lives.