Riot Control, 2020 by Mika Martinez

In response to the disproportionate use of tear gas and excessive force by the Portland Police in response to protests against police brutality, Don’t Shoot Portland brought together a team of community health professionals to examine the immediate and long-term impact it could have on the community. On June 26th, 2020 the report was officially released outside of the Injustice Center in downtown Portland, a place where many of the police riots occurred. Only a few blocks away from this violent ground was the Apple Store, another place downtown where a joint call to action against institutionalized violence and white nationalism was taking place. The team stood on the steps in front of the words, “I can’t breathe”.