Inside the battle for Portland with the independent journalists on the streets

[Nevilledog]

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2020/07/inside-battle-for-portland-with-independent-journalists/


On the night of July 11, as hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters amassed around the Justice Center in Portland, Oregon, federal Homeland Security officers opened fire with “crowd control” munitions. They shot a teargas canister directly at the head of Donavan LaBella, a peaceful protester who had been standing across the street holding a sign. The video that captured the protester — unconscious, bleeding and being carried to safety by other demonstrators and street medics — went viral almost immediately, pushing state officials to make public statements and demand that federal law enforcement pull back.

This video was shot by a 17-year-old independent journalist Garrison Davis, who was filming on his cell phone and broadcasting on Twitter. He had spent almost every night of the past two months documenting the uprising and the police’s response to it.

“We wouldn’t have the statements from [Gov.] Kate Brown today if it wasn’t for people like me filming last night,” Davis said. After the video was circulated, the governor, Sen. Ron Wyden, and most of the Portland City Council spoke up and condemned the police behavior.

Davis is part of a growing group of independent journalists who have been documenting this massive surge of protests — both in Portland and around the country — without any major media affiliation or expensive equipment. By using social media tools like Twitter and Periscope, they are giving people a first-hand view of what is happening on the streets — something local newspapers and television stations are unable to do on a daily basis due to shrinking budgets. In essence, these independent journalists are filling the gap in coverage, creating the video that is used by the major outlets and providing a clear picture of police behavior that is only possible by being in the middle of the action.

*snip*

[cayugafalls]

1. Citizen Journalist are here to stay!

Good for them.

[Nevilledog]

2. Was watching a live feed of the protests last night.

At one point, the Feds were lined up pointing their guns at protesters. Panning to them, it was a whole line of people with their phones out filming.

[cayugafalls]

3. Yep, I saw a similar feed.

They realize they are being videoed real-time yet they continue to antagonize and intimidate as if they want to world to see.

[Nevilledog]

4. They just don't care. And that's frightening.

I did learn to take a leaf blower and a hockey stick when there's gonna be tear gas.