Don't Shoot Portland

Don't Shoot Portland, also called Don't Shoot PDX, is a Portland, Oregon-based accountability group formed by Black Lives Matter supporter Teressa Raiford to scrutinize actions of the Portland Police Bureau.^[1][2]

Don't Shoot Portland

Logo

Supporters at a rally in 2015

History

Demonstrator holding signage in support of trans women of color

Don't Shoot Portland held a march on 7 July 2016 following the police killings of two black men: Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota.^[3] At the march, conservative blogger Michael Strickland pulled a gun and pointed it at protesters.^[4] According to The Hill video showed Strickland holding what appeared to be a video camera while arguing and backing away from protesters, before drawing his weapon.^[5] Strickland, known to post YouTube videos for "Laughing at Liberals", was shepherded away from the crowd by Jessie Sponberg, a mayoral candidate, before being arrested by police.^[3] He was later convicted of crimes relating to this incident.^[6][7]

In 2021, Raiford stated that activists in Portland were focused on saving lives while city leaders were focused on saving windows.^[8]

Don't Shoot Portland sued the Department of Homeland Security over the 2020 deployment of federal forces in Portland.^[9]

See also

• George Floyd mural
• Not My Presidents Day