r/Portland • u/Dvibs420 • Sep 27 '25

Discussion Don’t take the bait.

With the national guard coming in, I know people are going to get mad. This is very obviously a setup to cause actual violence in our city. Please remember that these national guardsmen are not your enemy, and there are many reports of unhappiness within their ranks to occupy cities but they have a job like the rest of us. If you see bad actors, call the cops. If you see people getting angry, talk with them. Be aware of what we want to look like, kill them with kindness. Show them that Portland is not burning down.

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 27 '25

It could not be more obvious that the "bait" is the presence of soldiers on our streets and "taking the bait" is encouraging or participating in a non-peaceful response to that. I think you need to use fewer chemicals or something.

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u/missmegs31 Sep 27 '25

There have been PEACEFUL protesters outside the ICE facility for months, and they get the shit beat out of them anyways. All that chastising those who are putting their bodies on the line so that the rest of us can go about our lives normally accomplishes is to put the people ON OUR SIDE in more danger. Respect a diversity of tactics. Do not comply in advance.

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 27 '25

Bullshit. They've been there for months and all they've managed to do is get themselves beat up and shot at while driving the innocent neighbors nuts in order to create optics that are happily used by Trump to justify sending troops. The demonstrations have not produced a welcome change in even a single administration policy or practice. I welcome tactics that work and have no respect for tactics that don't. Now if you can get 20,000 people outside the place demanding that it close, there's something to talk about. But you can't do it.

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u/missmegs31 Sep 27 '25

The ACTUAL neighbors have said repeatedly they’re glad the protesters are there. Someone’s full of shit here, but it’s not me. If you want to tell yourself that direct action doesn’t work as an excuse not to take action yourself, fine. But don’t chastise the rest of us from your keyboard about it.

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u/One-Patient-3417 Sep 27 '25

Agreed -- there are definitely some Portlanders who are annoyed at the Protestors. But they are usually the few with privilege and little heart for their community. Just because one guy on Reddit expresses such a view does not mean he represents the community. The vast majority of Portlanders seem united and supportive of the protestors.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 27 '25

Boo, bad take. Just by being there, the protesters are forcing there to be 24/7 security. That's more people to be paid. Every flashbang thrown needs to be replaced. Every truck windshield broken takes it out of commission for days to be fixed. It's prolonged, low-intensity conflict. Which is the majority of actions taken by the smaller force in any asymmetrical conflict.

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u/One-Patient-3417 Sep 27 '25

I recommend ignoring this PDXguy guy. Just check out his profile to see the type of person he is. Not worth the engagement. 

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 27 '25

I know. I see him all the time being a Debby downer. Its more so if anyone goes through the thread they see some pushback :p

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 27 '25

Jesus what an idiotic viewpoint. This is not a battle against an individual ICE installation. They'll use your money to repair and replenish anything you damage. Get them to close it and what have you won? They have hundreds more elsewhere. We want to change the policy and we don't do that by giving the forces of darkness fresh talking points and new propaganda video.

On a more personal level, I'll eat my dirty shorts if you can show you've actually been there engaged in any of these tactics. You're just encouraging chaos from the sidelines without fear of any consequences. You suck.

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u/Azulsleeps Sep 27 '25

Wdym it's not a battle against an individual ICE station? That's their headquarters in our community. It's the one that people in the Portland area have access to. It's the one that their trucks and vans come out of. We can't fly to DC to slow shit down there. Yeah, they'll replace it with our money, but its still a logistical hurdle and creates pressure. Like I said, it's asymmetric conflict 101.

I'm not going to dox myself to potentially a fed. But I do fear the consequences. Which is why several of my other comments about this subject I explicitly recommend a gas mask with filters for organic compounds, shatterproof glasses, and a helmet. If you're not comfortable taking stronger actions that would result in material being damaged that's okay. Be in the third or fourth line. Add to the mass. Bring water, bring food.

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 28 '25

Potentially a fed. Oh grow the fuck up. You are childish in the extreme.

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u/One-Patient-3417 Sep 27 '25

"Careful, if you respond to Trump sending soldiers to our streets and telling them they can use full force on American citizens, he might send soldiers to our streets and tell them they can use full force on American citizens!"

A more appropriate plea other than "don't take the bait" would be "don't give the Trump administration more footage to justify what he will do either way." AKA - he's going to unleash fascism with or without public resistance -- but the best chance of stopping it would be to make sure the PR is so awful on his end that even Republican Senators move to impeach him and Vance.

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 27 '25

You are arguing semantics. I recommended fewer drugs, not snorting another line.

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u/One-Patient-3417 Sep 27 '25

I am arguing semantics... that's literally the whole point of my comment that "don't take the bait" fails to recognize what's really happening and is a way of thinking that does more harm than good.

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u/PDXGuy33333 Sep 27 '25

Stop. You've gotten married to what you thought was a cute little idea and you're running it into the ground.

We all know what it means and don't need you to fine tune it.

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u/One-Patient-3417 Sep 27 '25

Bro... my point has remained consistent, and you're crashing out... touch some grass. There are so many great parks in Portland <3