When the Vanguard began working on this feature, our intent was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of protest in Portland. What we found is that what the major media characterizes as the standard protester (“anarchists,” “deviants,” “violent demonstrators,” etc.) may not be as well represented in the streets as they are on the 10 o’clock news.
While protesting has changed since 1970, the goals and the consequences often remain the same. Individuals still search for a way to express their concerns through group action, police and government officials continue to search for new tools to maintain civility, and some protesters still throw eggs at the cops.