UPDATE 9:40AM—A crowd of about 200 people organized by We Are Oregon, local labor unions, and Jobs With Justice planned to take over the Steel Bridge this morning as a statement against city job cuts—but never got further than the bridge's east bank.

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Dozens of police in riot gear sealed off the upper deck of the Steel Bridge on both sides, allowing TriMet trains and buses through, but no other traffic and definitely no protesters. The crowd, notably older than the Occupy crowds over the weekend, calmly refused to budge. Eventually, police officers began ziptie-ing and removing protesters. Though the final tally of arrests is still unknown, it was a surprisingly calm ordeal.

Across the street from the protest, a lone elderly woman with a "Support the Police" hoodie made up for being the sole counter-protester with both her volume and profanity. "COWARDS!" she shouted, "GO TO FUCKIN' TRADE SCHOOL! WHAT MAKES YOU SO FUCKIN' SPECIAL! ENTITLED ASSHOLES!"

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At about 9:30, the crowd began dispersing, some headed for the west end of the Burnside Bridge for the big anti-bank rally and civil disobedience planned for later this morning. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: 9:15 AM
This just tweeted by @PortlandPolice:

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Also... BOAT COP SIGHTING!!

More from the protest below the cut!

Protester being arrested.
  • Protester being arrested.

Original post:
Here's the latest from the standoff on the Steele Bridge between police and Occupy Portland protesters—and actually? Standoff isn't the perfect choice of words. Cops informed roughly 30 protesters to move off the roadway or be arrested. The protesters have refused, and as Denis put it it on Twitter: " A few sitters await their new charm bracelets" as one by one the demonstrators are calmly arrested and taken away. In fact according to many sources the situation so far is relaxed and downright chatty. Here's what it looks like on top of the bridge where Denis is currently perching...

Annnnd here's what it looks like on the west side entrance of the bridge where I was...


Riot cops mounted up and ready to roll... in case things get "less chatty."

More updates on a very big Occupy Portland day ahead! And follow it moment to moment here and here.