Attacks in Oregon, Arrests
Attacks in Oregon, Arrests
It started innocently enough with Gov. Kate Brown called lawmakers back to the capitol Salem days before Christmas to extend the state’s eviction moratorium, create a compensation fund for landlords and allocate more money for the state’s COVID-19 response and wildfire recovery work. Lawmakers are also considering proposals to shield schools from coronavirus lawsuits, allow restaurants and bars to sell to-go cocktails and cap the delivery fees they pay to third-party platforms. A closed session to the public due to because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Live streaming the session outside. The local and state police were there to insure order.
After exercising their First Amendment rights in the morning, the afternoon brought violence. Protestors broke windows in doors, assaulted police, sprayed them with chemicals, called them names, assaulted journalists filming them and refused orders to disperse, declaration of unlawful assembly was declared and arrests were made - assault, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, suspicion of unlawful use of mace and being a felon in possession of body armor, with a fifth perp being sought by state police for the break-in. Businesses owned by blacks had been targeted by hate groups and disrupted. A BLM flag-waver was pushed down the steps of the Capitol with an ensuring fistfight on other AAs. Some protestors carried weapons.
One state senator, Dallas Heard from Roseburg, invoked God and the Bible, quoting the Book of Samuel to the head of the Senate, that the legislative session was a "campaign against the people and the children of God.” and the “adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces” and “This is (God’s) kingdom, not yours.” He further said that the session was an “unchecked assault" on American freedom. After chastising Courtney for doing “such great evil to my people” and requiring rather than asking lawmakers to wear face coverings, Heard removed his mask and left the Rotunda. He had spoken to the rally protestors in the morning. The rally was called by Patriot Prayer leader, Joey Gibson, who was in attendance and whose felony trial is pending.
For Oregonians this is reminiscent of the Republican Senators walkout joined by House Republicans on bills that would have curtailed religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccinations and another bill would have required gun owners to lock away their guns when not in use and would have made it illegal for Oregon residents under 21 to purchase firearms among some bills that would reduce greenhouse gases. In response to Brown sending State Police to bring the legislators back to Salem, Republican Oregon Senator Brian Boquist said: "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon." Two right wing extremist groups the 3 percenters and the Oath Keepers who said "Gov. Brown, you want a civil war, because this is how you get a civil war". That session was canceled due to a warning from the state police of a "possible militia threat". Stickers with Kate Brown's picture on a Wanted poster were noted in downtown Salem this past week.
The Covid relief bills for Oregon individuals, landlords and businesses were passed despite the disorders and arrests.
