Battle of the inflatables: Portland ICE protests brings out streamers
The article reports on a large protest event called the “Battle of the Inflatables” held outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon. The clash began after conservative streamers promoted a “Patriot Weekend” rally, leading to a significant turnout of about 200 people, split evenly between pro-ICE supporters and anti-ICE protesters. The anti-ICE group, many dressed in inflatable animal costumes, aims to disrupt ICE operations and slow down deportations. Meanwhile, conservative protesters gathered at a nearby area dubbed “Patriots Corner,” featuring an inflatable President trump, expressing support for ICE and border enforcement.
Tensions were high, with reports of doxxing, threats, and harassment, especially targeting conservative streamers. Portland police maintained a presence throughout the area, with around a dozen officers patrolling the three-block radius. ICE officers were also observed on the facility’s roof equipped with paintball guns to manage the crowd when it became unruly. The protests, which have been ongoing as October, saw their busiest nights on Friday and Saturday, with many participants streaming the events live on social media. Local businesses have expressed concern over police resources being strained due to the protests and other city issues.
Battle of the inflatables: Portland ICE protests brings out streamers en mass
Portland, OREGON – It’s the ‘Battle of the Inflatables,’ outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, where protesters and counter protesters are colliding for the second big night in a row. It all started when a flyer was sent out by conservative streamers for a “Patriot Weekend.”
It had been a quiet week in front of the ICE facility, but many people flew in to protest Saturday night. This caused people on the anti-ICE side to gather in numbers after they saw the conservative streamers taking on Portland. There’s close to about 200 people, evenly split between Pro-ICE and anti-ICE protesters.
The anti-ICE protesters had inflatable costumes for people to wear throughout the night. Washington Examiner spoke with one frog about what brought her out here tonight.
“Most of us do not believe that immigrants are criminals,” the inflatable frog who identified as anti-fascist, said. “Even if they are here illegally, they have due process. The reason that we are here is to waste police and ICE resources and slightly slow them down a bit. And you know, possibly that could save somebody from being deported.”
There are about a dozen Portland police officers walking up and down the three block radius where the protests are taking place. Business owners complained to me earlier in the week that officers were becoming so busy with the protests, that operators were saying they did not have the resources available to send out officers for crimes and issues related to the uncontrolled homeless population in Portland.
A block away from the ICE facility, in what has been deemed “Patriots Corner,” where President Donald Trump and ICE supporters are congregating, an inflatable Trump was set up in response to the inflatable costumes.
“We came out here to show the world that we’re the majority, not the minority,” Tommy, a conservative streamer said. “We’re here to support our border laws and our ICE agents and to show the world what Antifa really is about.”
Washington Examiner told Tommy the Anti-ICE protesters are specifically here to try and waste ICE and police resources and asked if the streamers being here are making it worse.
“If Antifa wasn’t here, we wouldn’t be here in numbers like we are supporting ICE,” Tommy said. “They’re out there telling them to jump off the roof. They’re Doxxing their families.”
Tommy was doxxed by an Antifa flyer putting out a bolo on conservative streamers.
“They doxed my house, my work, they destroyed my car,” Tommy said. “They’ve attacked me, spit on me, said they were going to kill me, my wife, my dog. They’ve done everything you can think of, you know, yeah, they said they said they were going to come to my work and kill me or harm me, and whoever was there, so I had to quit my job, you know, so it didn’t get brought there. And, yeah, it’s been, it’s been pretty chaotic.”
ICE officers were seen on the roof holding paintball guns as crowds began to get rowdy. At one point, over a dozen ICE officers came out to push the crowds back past the blue line painted on the ground.
“PATRIOT WEEKEND” AND COUNTER PROTESTS OF INFLATABLE ANIMALS AT ICE FACILITY IN PORTLAND
It truly has turned into the streamer protest. Almost every single person could be seen watching the protest through their phone while streaming it live for their followers.
While these protests have been going on since October, Saturday and Friday night were the busiest Portland Police had seen in weeks.
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