There was a successful one-day special session of the Oregon Legislature today, where several Covid relief bills were passed. There also was a farcical protest by Patriot Prayer members and other right-wingers who were outraged about... something or other.
Being asked to wear a mask? Not being allowed into the Capitol building, even though no members of the public were able to go inside during the special session? Angry that their Beloved Leader, Donald Trump, lost to Joe Biden?
Who knows. These days it doesn't make sense to ask what right-wing wackos are protesting about, because even when they give an answer, it doesn't make much sense.
I suspect that those who showed up at the Capitol had finished their Christmas shopping, needed something to do, figured that Salem is a great place to do something, and wanted another opportunity to play toy soldier -- since some of those protesting were armed, as shown in a Daily Beast photo accompanying a story, "Heavily Armed Far-Right Mob Floods Oregon Capitol."
Wow, that would have been a funny Halloween costume, but today was December 21, not October 31. I wonder if this person with the scads of extra ammo attached to their waist realizes how foolish they look.
Probably not, since self-awareness isn't much in evidence at these sorts of right-wing protest costume parties.
These jerks also came with pepper spray. Which they used on police, according to a Statesman Journal story, "Arrests made after protesters attempt to enter Oregon State Capitol during session."
Oregon State Police said at about 8:30 a.m. protestors entered the building and at least one used "chemical agents" on officers.
Two hours later, state police and Salem police started to push people out of the Capitol. Bear spray was used against police.
“At one point we used pepper balls. I don’t know what else," said Lt. Treven Upkes of Salem Police. "When people attempted to come into the building they actually used pepper spray and other things on officers. In return, we used those to separate ourselves and get them to hold that spot. So I don’t know what all was used but I know at least pepper ball was used.
The Salem Reporter also has a story, "As lawmakers meet, protestors attempt to storm Capitol building." It includes some of the ridiculous things protesters were saying.
The crowd of protesters that arrived Monday morning was mostly maskless. Many were decked out in Donald Trump hats and waved flags from the president’s campaign. Some carried long rifles and sported body armor. One man wore a shirt calling for the imprisonment of Gov. Kate Brown.
Many yelled angrily at lawmakers gathered inside.
“Cowards!”
“What they are doing in that building right now is illegal!”
“The Chinese have taken over!”
“Vaccines are not effective!”
“I do not consent to a new world order!”
Well, my advice to these protesters is that what you're yelling should have at least a tenuous connection to reality. Otherwise you sound like a mentally ill person standing on a street corner shouting crazy stuff. Which likely would make more sense than "The Chinese have taken over!"
Here's some tweets that came across my Twitter feed today.
Looked foolish? They got the police to back down and leave! So who looked foolish?
Posted by: Frank | December 21, 2020 at 10:06 PM
Who looks foolish?
Little boys in grown-up costumes playing soldier, that's who.
Posted by: Jack Holloway | December 23, 2020 at 06:22 AM
If you want a detailed, blow-by-blow account of the entire embarrassing affair, check out the twitter feed of Laura Jedeed. The quotes of what the protestors were yelling and saying throughout the day demonstrate how unhinged they are; back to back statements that are contradictory or diametrically opposed positions, unintentionally ironic claims about constitutionality, and every other flavor of quackery. It starts here
https://twitter.com/LauraJedeed/status/1341061381076836352
Good morning, it is entirely too early to be alive never mind awake and I am undercover in Salem, Oregon, where a bunch of far right activists have gathered to protest the state governments decision to close their legislative session to the public today. Laura Jedeed, Space Professional (@LauraJedeed) December 21, 2020
Posted by: NotEvenWrong | December 23, 2020 at 02:53 PM