Tim Dickinson
@timdickinson.bsky.social
130K followers 2.9K following 1.3K posts
I cover the rise of authoritarianism Portland, Oregon Send tips via Signal: TimD.503
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Reposted by Tim Dickinson
jackjenkins.me
Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.
(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.
timdickinson.bsky.social
**(with apologies to major Sullivan Ballou, whose words are here borrowed)**
timdickinson.bsky.social
Do not mourn me dears; think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again!
Holy vermicelli
timdickinson.bsky.social
If I do not, never forget that when my last breath escapes me on the battle-field, it will whisper your names
timdickinson.bsky.social
I know I have but few claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed ...
Sweet nothings, mucho dinero
timdickinson.bsky.social
Suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, I am communing with God...
Queso queso
timdickinson.bsky.social
Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write a few lines....
timdickinson.bsky.social
My Very Dear Ones,

I write to you from near the front lines of war ravaged Portland.
Twee fruit
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
alexzee.bsky.social
“It appears the federal government is engaging in prohibited viewpoint discrimination by targeting demonstrators based on the content of their speech, while favoring those with whom the federal government agrees,” he wrote.
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
robertmackey.bsky.social
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
heathercherone.bsky.social
Pritzker is also furious: “Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization.”
Gov. JB Pritzker’s letter to the National Governors Association
timdickinson.bsky.social
Texas Gov. Abbott fundraising off of sending troops to Illinois
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
sarahjeong.bsky.social
ok I didn't mention this in my piece on friday but one of the things the judge asked about was whether the guardsmen were going to get paid during the shutdown

the doj was like "idk"

the state of oregon was like "we looked into it and the answer is no"
harmancipants.bsky.social
I keep forgetting the government is shut down bc Trump admin is so focused on sending troops to US cities
timdickinson.bsky.social
Tho now that you mention it this is a lovely idea 💡
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
emptywheel.bsky.social
Trump's Truth Social posts might doom his invasion of Chicago just like they did in Portland.

From a just-filed lawsuit.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
4. In one example that received significant news coverage, on September 6, 2025,
Trump posted on social media an image of the Chicago skyline in flames, stating “Chicago about
to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” including a depiction of himself in the image
of the fictitious warmonger character Lt. Col. Kilgore from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, titling
the post “Chipocalypse Now.”
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
kyledcheney.bsky.social
BREAKING: Illinois has filed suit to block Trump's deployment of the military to Chicago.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
governor.ca.gov
BREAKING: We just won in court — again.

A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND.
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
We are seeing the risk inherent in dismissing actions as “just theater” all along. This is theater, but there’s no “just” about it. It’s not civil war, but it’s the posturing performance of civil war’s elements (“your troops can’t match our troops”). As such it’s drawing closer to the full deal.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas fully backed the deployment.

“You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” he wrote on social media. “No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard.”
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
annabower.bsky.social
Immergut: I'm handling this on expedited basis, but defendants haven't provided new info.

SHE RULES FROM THE BENCH: I grant the plaintiffs motion for a second TRO based on reasons stated in previous order...
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
chrisgeidner.bsky.social
BREAKING: "For all of the reasons" given in Saturday's TRO, Immergut grants plaintiffs' second motion for a TRO.

"Based on the conduct of the defendants, ... in direct contravention" of Saturday's TRO, the second TRO bars relocation or federalization of National Guard from "any state or D.C."
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
governor.ca.gov
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.
govpritzker.illinois.gov
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
Reposted by Tim Dickinson
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
This represents a major escalation.

President Trump effort to mobilize TEXAS National Guard for deployment in Portland and Chicago.

Court filing just entered in Oregon v. Trump⬇️