Category: News & Current Events

Unity in Community Land Liberation Following Arrest

Story and Photo By Pete Shaw Nearly 75 members of Portland’s Rapid Response Network (RRN) assembled outside Alicia Jackson’s home at noon today, within ten minutes of receiving a text message calling for their assistance. “The cops were acting fools in the front and backyard,” said Lobo, co-founder of the Blazing Arrow Organization (BAO). “We…

Block Party for New Community Center

by Pete Shaw On May Day, local housing rights activists, including many Occupiers, helped Alicia Jackson take back her NE Portland home. Next door to Jackson’s house a duplex was under construction, which – unbeknownst to many of those helping Jackson – was being built on land that also had belonged to her. At yesterday’s…

Houston Janitors Strike for Economic Justice

by Mark Vorpahl Echoing the story of David vs. Goliath, janitors in Houston are on strike and taking on such corporate giants as JPMorgan Chase and Exxon Mobil in an effort to pressure the janitorial companies they employ to agree to the workers’ modest demands. It is these big business behemoths that are the real…

Targets of the FBI’s Portland Witch Hunt Speak Out, Urge Action

Report and Photos by Pete Shaw Dennison Williams and Leah-Lynne Plante, two citizens of Portland, have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating anarchists in the Pacific Northwest. The grand jury is convening in Seattle, Washington, and Plante and Williams are scheduled to appear before it on Thursday, August 2nd. Williams stated at…

Occupy Portland Elder Caucus Meets with the Mayor’s Office to Discuss Police Abuse

By Lauren Paulson On May Day, 2012 Portland police abuse was chillingly captured on camera throughout Portland that day.  This resonated with Occupy Portland’s senior group, The Elder Caucus.  Immediately, thereafter, members of The Elder Caucus coalesced with a purpose to address Portland’s problem of police abuse directly with the Mayor’s office. First, the Elders…

Housing Justice Activist Cameron Whitten Ends Hunger Strike

Story and video by Mungen Cakes.  Photos by Paul. Citing concessions from and ongoing negotiations with the City of Portland, Cameron Whitten ended his hunger strike today with an event he called “The Big Eat”. He gave a speech in front of city hall at 10 am culminating in a ceremonial bite from a custom…

Community Groups In Solidarity Against FBI Raids

By Pete Shaw A growing number of groups, many of which are based in Portland, have signed on to a statement written by the Committee Against Political Repression condemning the FBI’s recent raids against activists in Portland, Olympia, and Seattle. During the raids the FBI seized computers, black clothing, and anarchist literature. The most recent…

The People Cook Up New Approaches to Global Warming

Story and photos by Pete Shaw If you’ve got the green, being green seems to be all the rage these days. You can hop in your Prius with some canvas shopping bags, head to the rainwater recycling, solar-powered supermarket, buy some Coca-Cola in a reduced plastic bottle and, while enjoying your caffeine high, feel good…

Cascadians Drop Banner During Obama Fundraising Visit

by John Williams Barack Obama has failed to halt any wars and has greatly expanded presidential power, despite promises to carry out different policies than his predecessor George W. Bush. At noon today, several members of the Cascadia Now! Movement gathered across from Obama’s Portland fundraiser event and dropped a large banner depicting a Sasquatch…