Yep.
The current Chief of Police has been working hard to rehabilitate the Portland Police. In the past, they've been a pack of thugs who would put a fist through your face for no reason whatsoever. I've had a few experiences with them that ended up in complaints to them.
This "deadline" was no such thing. It was the Mayor saying that at 12.01am on Sunday the "special dispensation" allowing the protesters to camp in the parks would expire and after that (and no details given) they would begin enforcing the law.
Chief Reese literally told protesters they would have to request an arrest if they wanted one the other day. They spent most of the day passing out flyers in the camp detailing how they could "take a number" and be arrested.
The protesters are pretty much being played here. The rest of the city is taking it as an excuse to throw a party. The anarchists they invited in from Seattle are going to be pretty bored.
The police currently are slowly making a perimeter and I am betting they are just going to lay siege to it and starve them out. Probably have cops showing up with coffee and donuts to entice people out, but let nothing go in at a time of their choosing.
There is no reason to go in and bust heads. I'm liking this -- makes the protesters look like idiots and the police will sweep up the trash when THEY choose to, not when the protesters choose.
Anything to get a good camera shot - even if it means inciting a riot to do so!
The protesters clearly want a fight, hope the cops are smarter than that.