Portland News outlets neglected to report on political violence at maduro protest

EXCLUSIVE — A downtown political protest ended with assaults, an arrest, and an alleged attempted robbery, but Portland’s major news outlets didn’t report any of it.

KATU, KOIN, KGW, and OregonLive each published articles describing the “Free Maduro” demonstration, its organizers, and its anti-intervention message. Their reports characterized the gathering as a rally and march organized by anti-war and socialist groups opposing U.S. military action in Venezuela. None of the four outlets mentioned assaults, police enforcement activity, or arrests, despite those incidents occurring in connection with the protest.

According to first-hand video documentation, eyewitness accounts, and documents obtained by oceanplot, violence occurred while protest groups were still present downtown. The protest began around 3:00 p.m. at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Protesters marched several blocks toward Powell’s Books, where they met another group holding a similar demonstration. After a round of speeches, the combined group marched to the waterfront, where more speeches were held.

The daytime portion of the protest remained peaceful, although counter-protesters were present throughout the march. As evening approached, at least one counter-protester was struck from behind in the head. Portland Police made an arrest on scene at the waterfront in connection with that assault. Video of the arrest was recorded by oceanplot.

A police report number exists for that incident, and a public records request for the report is pending. In addition, video recorded minutes later shows at least two separate assaults downtown involving groups tied to the demonstration. oceanplot also holds a police report number for an alleged attempted robbery of a counter-protester’s cell phone that occurred in connection with counter-protest activity.

Arrests, assaults, and alleged robberies are not peripheral details here. They are central public safety facts.

When multiple major outlets report on a downtown political demonstration while omitting documented violent incidents and police enforcement tied to the same protest activity, the public record becomes materially incomplete.

oceanplot provided contemporaneous notice, notified of the availability of police reports, and offered first-hand video documentation to KATU, KOIN, KGW, and OregonLive.

As of publication, none of those outlets have corrected or expanded their coverage.