July 17, 2003
(Updated) Attorney General John Ashcroft In Portland Tomorrow
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
This morning, while off engaged in the continuing work moving the Great Northwest Bookstore, the following notice came over the wire from Oregon Death With Dignity:
Tomorrow morning, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, will be visiting Portland to discuss the Administration's ongoing war on terrorism. His morning press conference will be delivered at the Hatfield Courthouse in downtown Portland.
Where: Outside of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, 1000 SW 3rd Avenue (corner of 3rd and Salmon), Downtown Portland.
I'm not certain just yet, but the press conference is scheduled for either 11:00 AM or 11:30 AM. I've cleared my morning schedule (I'll go to the bookstore afterwards). Yes, I will be testing the acceptance of my PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE press identification.
There's an interesting item from The Oregonian (found via Emma):
A Portland Police Bureau spokesman said officials learned about the visit Tuesday, so he was not certain whether activists would have time to plan a large protest.
"This is a very short notice event," said Sgt. Brian Schmautz. "To my knowledge, the public is just now learning of it. We are monitoring the situation, and we will be working with the federal government to provide the appropriate security and crowd control."
Update
Note: The above article also confirms the 11:30 AM press conference time.
Update
While some might pronounce me paranoid, I can't help but label this an example of the continuing propaganda campaign:
An intelligence report issued by the FBI warning of possible threats to the nation's bridges specifically references the St. Johns Bridge in Portland, federal officials aknowledged late Thursday.
However, despite the mention there is "no indication at this time that there is any threat to the bridge or the people of Oregon," said FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele.
...
The FBI did not offer an explanaition as to why the Portland bridge case, with no apparent terror link, was referenced in the alert given to police agencies across the nation.
Well, let me take a stab at this one. Perhaps because the Attorney General was coming to town a mere two days later?