Coverage of August 22 from portland.indymedia.org
"...In the late afternoon, police declared a state of emergency, and threatened to arrest anyone who did not disperse. Very few people heard these announcements and police did not give the crowd time to comply. The police then turned violent, shooting people with rubber bullets and pepper-spraying many others. Children were among the victims of chemical attacks, including a 10 month old baby."

Transcript of Donahue interview with Chris Preucil protest organizer.

"Letter to the Local Police" by June Jordan

Dear Sirs:
I have been enjoying the law and order of our community throughout the past three months since my wife and I, our two cats, and miscellaneous photographs of the six grandchildren belonging to our previous neighbors (with whom we were very close) arrived in Saratoga Springs which is clearly prospering under your custody.

Indeed, until yesterday afternoon and despite my vigilant casting about, I have been unable to discover a single instance of reasons for public-spirited concern, much less complaint

You may easily appreciate, then, how it is that I write to your office, at this date, with utmost regret for the lamentable circumstances that force my hand

Speaking directly to the issue of moment: I have encountered a regular profusion of certain unidentified roses, growing to no discernible purpose, and according to no perceptible control, approximately one quarter mile west of the Northway, on the southern side To be specific, there are practically thousands of the aforementioned abiding in perpetual near riot of wild behavior, indiscriminate coloring, and only The Good Lord Himself can say what diverse soliciting of promiscuous cross-fertilization.

As I say, these roses, no matter what the apparent background, training, tropistic tendencies, age, or color, do not demonstrate the least inclination toward categorization, specified allegiance, resolute preference, consideration of the needs of others, nor any other minimal traits of decency.

May I point out that I did not assiduously seek out this colony, as it were, and that these certain unidentified roses remain open to viewing even by children, with or without suitable supervision (My wife asks me to append a note as regards the seasonal but nevertheless seriously licentious phenomenon of honeysuckle under the moon that one may apprehend at the corner of Nelson and Main However, I have recommended that she undertake direct correspondence with you, as regards this: yet another civic disturbance in our midst)

I am confident that you will devise and pursue appropriate legal response to the roses in qustion If I may aid your efforts in this respect, please do not hesitate to call me into consultation

Respectfully yours, June Jordan

___________________

This, I think, is more poignant than at first is obvious because Portland is called the City of Roses!! Didn't make the connection at first. I read this letter the other day. and I think it's a wonderful response to the "local police" of America, and the kind of approach (also taken in DC--see my email and the article today on the protesters there) the police took with us as we walked the streets, happily speaking our beautiful minds about Bushit & Co.'s warmongering. Local Police heard, "He's not MY president" et al., and a wonderful drumbeat from our rhythm-keepers, the insinuaters whose only affront was to wend the spirit of song and music through us as we marched. When we came to a corner at the edge of downtown we were surrounded behind by a wall of riot-geared police, in front by a squad of bicycle police (whose benign transport belies vicious import) whose unprovoked violence--spraying with mace/ pepper spray the musicians, the drummers!!! -- became a media event. Otherwise the news paid little attention to the true spirit of the march. It had been three hours of peaceful protest when Police&Forces could no longer tolerate their uselessness and could not contain their ferocious biases and wrath, not to mention that they wanted so very badly to have the media film a confrontation that they could claim was provoked as a way to discredit the beautiful peaceful work and rights of The Roses. The People.

Peri Hupsous reporting from Portland, Oregon