As Occupiers planted tents in Terry Schrunk plaza today, legendary muckracker/flip-flop aficionado Michael Moore paid the encampment a visit. A team set up a mic and PA system for him in the middle of a large circle, but Moore initially refused to stand in the middle of the group, wanting to stay on the sidelines "like one of you." TOO BAD, MOORE! That's the only working mic! Into the middle with you.

Moore's brief speech was basically a pep talk for the protesters. Noting that the federal plaza is in the shadow of the Wells Fargo building, Moore asked, "Who organized this protest? Wells Fargo! And Citibank! And BP!" He also got in a few jabs at Homeland Security and praised Occupy Portland's size. "Having traveled the country, you don't know who freakin' awesome this is. Portland! Portland! Portland! It's like the seat of our new democracy right here."

Moore ended by awarding Occupy Portland with the title of largest occupation in the nation, sparking a happy ruckus. In return, occupiers donned him with an Occupy Portland ball cap — they know his style well — and a Cascadia flag. His response: "I love Portland!" Then, swept off into a black SUV. End scene.

Okay, roll tape!

— additional reporting by Alex Zielinski

Reports are coming in, including from the Mercury's own Alex Zielinski, that there's been at least one arrest outside the small "expansion" of Occupy Portland tents in federally owned Terry Schrunk Plaza. And there's talk the Portland Police Bureau is activating its riot squad to deal with an emerging protest. (Nope; see below.)

Check in on Twitter and Blogtown for developments. Sarah Mirk is headed down to the park, and we'll also be following on the Mercury's feed.

Update 4:16 PM: One update already from Sarah: The arrest so far wasn't actually related to Occupy Portland. Instead, Alex says, it involved a firearm-related charge. Some reports now say the feds have given protesters until 10PM to clear.

Update 4:18 PM The mayor's office saying that reports by KPTV and others that riot squad officers have been mustered are not true. It's regular officers on patrol, like they are on most events, alongside the Occupy Portland anti-coal-power zombie march.

Tuck in your napkin for an Occupy Portland news smorgasbord: I've got a bunch of small updates on the Facebook booking photo flap, Michael Moore, police handling of the arrestees at Jamison, and also the apparent expansion to Terry Schrunk Plaza.

1. Briefly, from Occupy's press team:

Michael Moore has confirmed that he will arrive at Occupy Portland at 4:30 PM. He will be dropped off at an undisclosed location, tour the camp, then there will be a rally at 4:45 at Terry Schrunk Plaza. More information as it becomes available.

2. Mayor Sam Adams' office told me again today that the arrests Saturday haven't budged the mayor's support. But his spokeswoman reaffirmed that even mere sit-ins wouldn't be allowed after hours in other parks, should occupiers consider another demonstration, or many, across town.

3. And then there's this very hilarious account of what it was like for the brave few occupiers who fled the nighttime bustle of the main camps at Chapman and Lownsdale squares and, instead, pitched their tents across SW Madison in Terry Schrunk Plaza, home of the movement's general assembly meetings. (No luck yet reaching anyone in the federal bureaucracy who can answer the question: will they get to stay?)

Early this morning, just before 1am, an autonomous group of individuals who had been camping with Occupy Portland relocated to Terry Schrunk Plaza—the home of Occupy Portland's General Assembly. These members, understanding both that they do not represent Occupy Portland with their move and that the risk of federal action against their move, assembled four tents on the grassy terraces of the amphitheater peacefully.

In response, the Portland Police Bureau approached these campers to inform them that they were trespassing of federal land outside of city jurisdiction, and that it is their duty to call Federal Police—Officers of the Department of Homeland Security. After three in the morning, the Police Lieutenant made a call to federal authorities who were then dispatched to the park at the southwest corner Third and Madison.

There, two officers confronted these rogue campers and an observer from Occupy Portland to officially warn them that their actions are in violation of Federal Law and that their actions are being closely monitored. Furthermore, Homeland Security warned that federal regulations (in regard to drug and alcohol use, especially) are more strict than those of the city, that the actions of these campers would require a permit, and that these individuals must be accountable for their actions.

No arrest or or citations were made. Ten National Bank Transfer Day fliers were well received by officers of Homeland Security, a police commander, lieutenant, 3 sergeant, and 3 police officers by the livestream cameraman (calling himself Professor P) observing and documenting from the Occupy Camp. At this time, the tents remain on park grounds and the officials seem interested in banking with credit unions.

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It captures the mood of the event—exuberance—and much of the color. But it also includes some troubling accusations about the way a few of the 25 arrestees were treated during and after a police raid that many occupiers saw as unnecessarily overwhelming but that officials like Mayor Sam Adams and Police Chief Mike Reese have defended as trying but peaceful. (Hit the jump for the whole statement.)

While the interaction was overall very professional and lacked the air of police brutality we have seen in places like Oakland, some arrestees did report rough behavior.

“I was kept in a squad car for four hours,” Cameron Whitten told supporters. “When I was remaining silent they weren’t very friendly. They knew who I was, I heard them talking about me. I got slapped a few times, and had a car door shut against my head twice.

“As soon as I complied and told them my name though, they were suddenly very nice.”

Interestingly, when Whitten was quoted by the Oregonian yesterday, there was no mention of alleged mistreatment. They have Whitten, 20, applauding the Portland Police Bureau for not reacting with more draconian measures like departments in Oakland and other cities.

Update 10:55 AM: I just spoke with Whitten, who said he might not have mentioned getting slapped to the O, but that he definitely told the paper he was "mistreated" and was left to linger in a police vehicle until giving his name. But he also told me he wasn't upset that the paper didn't report everything he says he told them and that, as he put it, he knows they "don't want to cover the bad press about the people who are supporting this system."

"I'm not angry. They tackled a lot of different things in the article, and it's not all about me," he said, adding that he also doesn''t "want to paint a bad image of the cops overall."/end update

Last night's Occupy update came just hours before confirmation of some other big news for the occupation: Filmmaker Michael Moore has confirmed he'll be at Chapman and Lownsdale squares at 3:30 PM, on his way to Powell's for a book signing. (He'll be at the camp after the anti-coal zombie march planned for today.)

Update 10:20 AM—Will Moore also visit Terry Schrunk Plaza? That's where the GAs have been held, and now, as of last night, the O is reporting, it's also home to the tents of a few occupiers who don't much like the noise down at the main camps all night.

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Twelve hours after this morning's 27 arrests at Occupy Portland in the Pearl District, organizers are upbeat about how the civil disobedience went down.

"We feel like we made an important point," says Occupy Portland media liaison Jordan LeDoux. "Your first amendment rights don't end at a park block and they don't end at midnight. How silly it is that we have police wandering around arresting people who are peacefully protesting when we have Wall Street bankers who have committed crimes still wandering around?" LeDoux says Occupiers agree for the most part that the arrests were peaceful and not overly rough.

Mayor Sam Adams seems pleased with how the arrests occurred as well. He tweeted a defense of the actions this morning:

KATU's broadcast this morning had some good video of the arrests, another video on YouTube captures the raucous atmosphere of the night.