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by Wm. Steven Humphrey

Here’s your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin’!)

• First of all, DO NOT MISS this terrific deep dive report by the Mercury‘s Alex Zielinski and Blair Stenvick into the probably illegal detainment of Portland protesters who were snatched off the street by federal officers during recent protests. It’s a case study in the violation of civil rights as well as some bumbling (and often hilarious) mismanagement of federal law enforcement.

We spoke with another Portlander who’d been ‘snatched’ by feds in an unmarked van.

His experience—and others’—further illuminates the unorganized, heavy-handed, and possibly unconstitutional tactics employed by federal police in recent weeks. https://t.co/XLVTuOsq0x
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) August 5, 2020

• Related: Experts that study human rights violations have found that the feds treatment of Portland protesters were “disproportionate, excessive, and indiscriminate, and deployed in ways that caused severe injury to innocent civilians, including medics,” according to their report.

• The 68th night of protests in Portland was marked by a large group marching from Peninsula Park to the police union building on North Lombard, where a riot was eventually declared after police say a group of protesters broke into the building and set a small fire. Gunfire was also reported in the area, but it’s unclear whether or not it was associated with the protests. The crowd dispersed by 3:30 am.

• Yeah, another thing about last night’s protest? The driver of a truck (UGH, it’s always a truck) drove recklessly through a crowd of demonstrators dragging a motorcycle last night during the protest on North Lombard. However, after being questioned by the cops, the truck driver was mysteriously released and later, according to video shot on the scene, was seen waving a gun at protesters.

https://t.co/SdKngzjw28
— Blair Stenvick (@BlairStenvick) August 5, 2020

• So even though the majority of federal officers guarding the downtown courthouse have fled Portland (see ya!), the fence that surrounds the building remains and is still blocking the bike lane. And while fines imposed by the city are approaching $600,000, the feds remain unresponsive.

• In local coronavirus news, the Oregon Health Authority reported an additional 299 new positive COVID cases and five more deaths since yesterday. By this time tomorrow, Oregon will have more than 20,000 total cases statewide.

• While nothing is for certain, Oregon is considering the possibility of travel restrictions for those coming into the state from coronavirus hot spots.

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Following the devastating explosion yesterday in Beirut that killed 135, injured thousands, and left 200,000 people homeless, the Lebanese government has put several port officials under house arrest while they investigate why 2,750 tons of highly explosive fertilizer had been stored in a warehouse on the site of the blast. From the story: “The Port of Beirut and customs office is notorious for being one of the most corrupt and lucrative institutions in Lebanon….”

• Meanwhile Trump’s own Defense Secretary Mark Esper is denying the president’s assertion that the explosion in Beirut was caused by “an attack.”

• Speaking of blatant Trump lies, Facebook has removed a post from the president’s personal page that promoted the CLEARLY INCORRECT idea that children are “almost immune” to COVID.

• Today in “Back to School” news: “More than 100 students quarantined after several people test positive in Mississippi school district.”

Jesus. The students at that high school in Georgia that went viral yesterday for how jampacked the hallways were tell @mollyhc that they were told they would “face expulsion for remaining home” if they’re worried about COVIDhttps://t.co/gOd78nXuZw
— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) August 5, 2020

• In an attempt to siphon Black votes away from Biden, Republicans are pushing to get Kanye West’s name on November’s presidential ballot in at least four states. (Look. We don’t ask Kim Kardashian for much… but can she please do something about this?)

• Bad news for Trump and his Republican cronies: Big progressive wins in yesterday’s primary elections across the country (such as “Squad” member Rashida Tlaib and BLM activist Cori Bush) could signal a new blue wave of voters.

• A new poll shows that the majority of Americans believe we should all vote by mail in the upcoming election, despite Trump’s lies about how it is unsafe.

Joe Biden will no longer travel to Milwaukee for the Democratic National Convention and will now accept the presidential nomination remotely because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/S9FxzHVn0X
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) August 5, 2020

• Want to support the Mercury AND look like a million bucks? Buy our newest “RESIST” T-shirt created by local artist Sloane Leong that comes in black, white, yellow, and teal and is perfect for anyone who wants to protest in style!

• THE WEATHER REPORT: And what’s this?? Actual showers tomorrow with a high of 73? (But don’t fret… warmer days return this weekend.)

• And finally: Kids, go ask your grandparents who Monty Python was and then have a good laugh over this mashup.

Trump’s latest interview vs monty python parrot sketch pic.twitter.com/GKlpNF4ffB
— Darren Dutton (@Darren_Dutton) August 4, 2020

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