1000 Portlanders march against American Legislative Exchange Council, leading nationwide protests. Today Portlanders joined over seventy cities across the nation to target corporations and legislators involved in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Portland’s march – which included nearly 200 yellow “ALEC Exposed” umbrellas, many colorful banners and a 50 foot anti-corporate wave – visited offices of many ALEC members, including ExxonMobil, McDonalds, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Verizon, FedEx, Taco Bell, Walgreens, Shell, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. Responding to a national call from Occupy Portland, this is the Occupy Movement’s largest coordinated action this year, confronting ALEC corporations in the cities in which they do business throughout the nation.
“We took action today to challenge ALEC, a group made up of the world’s largest corporations, as well as many state and federal politicians. ALEC writes legislation focused on amassing more profit for the wealthiest 1% at the expense of our communities,” said Nicholas Caleb of Occupy Portland. “Paul S. Occupy Portland: Police Riot Livestream. "Occupied" Portland Police No Show For Robbery 11.23.11. _lumkkxFrqw1r4geodo1_1280. Police Prescinct info. Portland OR Police info. Occupy Portland showdown: Protesters face off with police over threats of eviction from city parks Don Ryan/AP Protester John Lonquist hauls garbage across the street while cleaning up camp after winning the battle to stay in the Occupy Portland Camp in Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Police have begun to dismantle tents and tear down tarps at two Portland parks after protesters moved out Sunday. The removal comes hours after protestors were warned to get out or be arrested. Crowds converged on two adjacent downtown Portland parks where protesters were camped after city officials set a midnight Saturday deadline to disperse. Hours later protesters remained, though the crowd had thinned and obeyed police orders to clear the street and take down two makeshift barricades.
At one point overnight, the crowd swelled to thousands. As dawn arrived, riot police had retreated and most of the crowds had gone home, but protesters who have been at the two parks since Oct. 6 were still there. One of the organizers, Jim Oliver, said the night had been a victory for Occupy Portland. LIVESTREAM / MEDIA.