Learning to Ally: Partnerism and the Portland Protests

Abstract

While the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon have been largely portrayed in the media as destructive, violent, chaotic, and without focus, many participants experienced something entirely different. This article shares one white person’s experience in a number of racial justice gatherings and protests in Portland from June until August 2020, on the ground and on the “front lines” – in the spirit of and with a focus on social justice, community, and caring, and through a partnership studies (partnerism) lens.