Tyres slashed as Portland police vandalise football supporters’ van

(NOTE:  This article was originally written on our sister site, Prost Amerika by Ryan Myers with additional input from our UK based team)

Property belonging to one of the USA’s most prominent football supporters’ club has been damaged in the unrest in the US City of Portland.

The Pacific North West area, also known as Cascadia, has seen some of the most boisterous anti racists activity. That area includes the state of Oregon, whose largest city is Portland.

The supporters group for the MLS Portland Timbers, is known  as the Timbers Army (TA), and has been active in supplying water and medical aide to protesters, through its yellow “No Pity” van.

Portland, Oregon has been the scene of continued civil disruption following protests caused originally by the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis. The murder was captured on video and led to global protests against racism and injustice.

The TA are unapologetically political, often taking public stances to support LGBTQ community, refugee rights and to oppose racism.

Their van was damaged by Portland Police (PPB) in the early morning of August 13^th after the Timbers Army has played an important role in supporting the community in the nightly protests through its association with Portland United Against Hate (PUAH).

Additionally, the No Pity Van has provided medical supplies for street medics, and PPE and water to anyone in need.

The Timbers Army stated they were complying with police instructions to leave the  area as instructed when the PPB slashed all four tires.

This is the second incident of property damage done to the No Pity Van during the nightly protests.

A federal officer had also fired at the van’s windscreen back on July 25^th.

The van was again trying to leave the area, after being instructed by federal officers.

The rationale behind federal and local police’s destruction of property seems to be the van would become a hazard to both sides (officers and protesters) in the event the van was to get in between the two groups.

However, TA members are pointing out that  deflating a vehicle’s tires seems to be an inconsistent practice having ordered it to move away.

Despite the destruction, the Timbers Army made repairs on the van and will push on as the protests enter their third month.

A Timbers Army statement maintained the tyres had been mended and they would continue to provide aid to the protesters.

Prost Amerika