Signs of the Times

For the past month I’ve been fast walking around the neighborhood and haven’t carried my camera. Each day I vary my course to increase distance and speed. As I zipped through my environs, my peripheral vision witnessed the changes time and weather have made. What had bloomed in the spring had gone to seed, and now leafy green trees and brightly colored flowers dotted the landscape. Along with the flowers, signs had also popped up. Recently, I took a slower walk with the camera and capture some of the sights I’ve noticed along the way.

I live near downtown Portland, Oregon. This city has been in the news quite a bit lately. Some news sources make it sound as if Portland was burned to the ground. Yes, there has been over two months of protests that have come about, not only in the U. S., but also around the world, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Yes, there has been some violence and destruction of property in the form of graffiti, trash burning, and setting off firecrackers, much of the damage done by forces outside the BLM movement. This activity was limited to a two block area. The rest of the city is fine, and groups of citizens have worked to clean up messes and graffiti. When federal officers were deployed to this city, things changed. Their actions were aggressive and perceived as military occupation. Some protesters were seriously injured by these men.

The unofficial motto of this city is Keep Portland Weird, and it is weird in the kookiest of ways. First a Wall of Moms in yellow shirts showed up to protect protesters who now came out in greater numbers. When the federal officers were brutally aggressive to the Wall of Moms, they were followed up by a Wall of Dads carrying leaf blowers to blow the tear gas and pepper spray back in the direction of the federal agents. Next came a Wall of Grandmas and a Wall of Vets to protect the Moms, Dads, and Grandmas.

Governor Kate Brown negotiated to have the federal agents withdrawn. Now that they’re gone, protests continue more peacefully. Progress is being made with all parties in discussion to make lasting changes in the community for a safer, better place for all to live and work.

Where I live, less than ten miles from Portland, the neighborhood shows its support.