Portland's Naked Athena Protester Says She Wanted Cops 'to See What They're Shooting At'

[demmiblue]

The woman who was dubbed “Naked Athena” after facing down federal and local Portland authorities in the nude has spoken out for the first time, saying she wanted cops to “see what they’re shooting at.” The woman identified herself only as Jen when speaking to the Portland-based podcast Unrefined Sophisticates. According to Willamette Week, she described herself as “notoriously naked” and revealed that she’s a sex worker in her thirties. Recalling the night of her now-famous photo, she said she kept on her mask and hat “because it was cold,” and said of her new nickname: “I didn’t give myself that name... [but] it’s catchy.” Jen said her protest was “really calm and terrifying at the same time,” adding that it was “like being in the eye of the storm.” She said her message, “other than my feminine response of wanting to show them what my version of vulnerability looks like,” was that: “These protesters... the only thing we have in common is we have masks on and we’re out here at night. None of these people have weapons. Empty their pockets, take off their clothes—nobody has weapons here... I just wanted them to see what they’re shooting at.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/naked-athena-protester-says-she-wanted-cops-to-see-what-theyre-shooting-at

[KelleyKramer]

1. "Empty their pockets, take off their clothes--nobody has weapons here"

That's it right there

Well done Athena!!

[JI7]

2. They don't care . They aren't targeting them because they think they are armed and dangerous

[Oppaloopa]

6. No They knew she was not and shot rubber bullets at her anyway. I keep waiting to see that clip on

tv with the private parts blurred out.

[IronLionZion]

3. There was a scene like that in the black panthers movie

where activists took off their clothes to avoid being shot by police who "feared for their lives" "may have a weapon" etc. during confrontations. Not sure it helped in every case because people have died with gunshot wounds in their armits because their hands were up.

There are countries where police try to avoid violence as much as possible. America isn't one of them

[rainin]

4. This was a stunt and I don't think it did anything to amplify our core messages

It made a great photograph so somebody can submit it for a Pulitzer, I guess. But, the men likely got hard ons watching her. Why give them a nudie lady show as a bonus on top of their contractor pay and free soldier toys? This made no sense to me. This deeper "message" of showing them our vulnerability is a fantasy. They got some live free porn. End of story

[USALiberal]

8. LOL, ok! nt

[CrispyQ]

10. Agree. I thought this image was much more powerful.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=691

[rainin]

13. Agree completely!!

[betsuni]

20. Me too!

[Celerity]

22. this from here in Sweden too

Woman who defied 300 neo-Nazis at Swedish rally speaks of anger

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/04/woman-defied-neo-nazis-sweden-tess-asplund-viral-photograph


plus


a famous image from 1985 known as tanten med väskan, “the lady with the bag”. The image, taken by Hans Runesson, shows a woman hitting a skinhead from the Nordic Reich party with her bag.

[Raine]

23. Absolutely! 👍

It was much more powerful and memorable, it doesn't come off as a stunt or some sort of arty performance like the nude.

[Ms. Toad]

12. And nothing about it said black lives matter.

It took the focus away from the murder of black, mostly male, people, and shifted it to one naked white* woman.

We cannot settle for spectacles that endanger us all. This is a moment for serious action — to once again take up the mantle of the civil rights era by summoning the same conviction and determination our forebears did,” Mondainé wrote.

Mondainé criticized the presence of select White entities — leftist and anarchist White groups causing violence, the aforementioned “Naked Athena,” a White “Wall of Moms” and, chiefly, the fe

deral agents — that have stolen the shine off what was initially demonstrations for Black Lives Matter.


https://thegrio.com/2020/07/25/naacp-portland-president-speaks-out-on-protests/

* It is unclear whether she is white, or merely perceived as white enough to be far more privileged than those who are being murdered. Although most reports describe her as white, a few describe her as Asian.

[rainin]

14. Yes, it distracted from what's important right now

These protests are for one purpose - justice and equal treatment for black and brown people

[sheshe2]

15. Allies come in many colors and sexes.

It is unclear whether she is white, or merely perceived as white enough to be far more privileged than those who are being murdered. Although most reports describe her as white, a few describe her as Asian.

So you do not know for a fact what her color is.


We should just abandon the movement if we are not black? Is that what you are saying? You mention the wall of moms, at least the article did. They were protecting the protesters with their bodies. I see no reference to the wall of dads and the wall of veterans, mostly male.

I am not getting what you and the Grio are saying here. Allies are allies no matter what their color. BLM has done a magnificent job enlightening and firing up all people for the first time. Awareness has never been more apparent. Marches in towns around me are walking for black lives. One such march, my 4 year old great niece held a sign BLM, the one year old held on dads chest displayed one as well. They are very, very white...their cousins are biracial.

Do not tell me ALL can't be a wall against racism. We can. John Lewis knew this.

[Ms. Toad]

16. It's not "the Grio," the editorial I linked to was written by the black head of the Portland NAACP

He described her as white, as do most articles. But because I have also seen articles describing her Asian, I wanted to be clear why I used the term white. I'm sure you arPortland NAACP suggested that her actions (and other primariliy white actions) may be an unwelcome shift in focus from the mission of Black Lives Matter.

Allies should play supporting roles, taking their cues from blacks - not taking over, and becoming the star of the show.

That doesn't mean there aren't roles for allies to play. Of course there are. But what it means is that those of us who are white need to be attentive to the vision and direction of those with the most at stake (blacks), and to be careful not to make the show about us.

[sheshe2]

17. The link is The Grio.

https://thegrio.com/2020/07/25/naacp-portland-president-speaks-out-on-protests/

I think the unwelcome shift is the federal 'officers' and I use that term lightly as they are just paid mercenaries.

He described her as white, as do most articles. But because I have also seen articles describing her Asian, I wanted to be clear why I used the term white. I'm sure you arPortland NAACP suggested that her actions (and other primariliy white actions) may be an unwelcome shift in focus from the mission of Black Lives Matter.

I just googled him. The article is from RW New York Post.

Antifa and lefties!

The NAACP’s leader in Portland is describing his city’s two months of nightly protests as “largely a white spectacle” — caused by antifa and other left-wing activists — that has co-opted the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Rev. E.D. Mondainé, in an op-ed for The Washington Post, hit hard on what he calls privileged white Americans “with their own agendas” and pleads for an “immediate refocusing” on the true reason for the demonstrations — an end to racial injustice and inequity.

snip

“There is more at stake here than who appears most often on nightly TV broadcasts,” he writes. “Right now, there are unmarked, unnamed federal forces kidnapping our citizens off the streets without justification or authority.”

Ultimately, Mondainé thanks “our white brothers and sisters” for their support, but asks them to consider whether their actions are “to further the cause of justice” or “are simply for show.”

“Is this another example of white co-optation?” he asks.

https://nypost.com/2020/07/25/portland-naacp-chief-calls-protests-largely-white-spectacle/

...................................

“Is this another example of white co-optation?” he asks.

Yes it is and there are dark forces at work, we know that. Trump and the DOJ sent them to do just that.

To slur walls of moms because they are white and fighting to make a difference is ridiculous.

As I said allies come in many colors.

[radius777]

18. Agree, the Portland protests are welcome by most PoC.

RW forces will always hold up one or two PoC (such as Mondaine) who have a contrarian opinion.

Protests and rebellion against power structures comes in all forms, and the Wall of Moms as well as Naked Athena have been effective, especially as we need young whites and white women to also mobilize and vote for our side, these protesters help with that.

[sheshe2]

19. Thank you radius for saying what I was trying to convey.

It is late and I am tired.

Thanks. We stand together.

[Ms. Toad]

21. It's from the Washington Post.

You even quoted the second sentence that states that it came from the Washington Post, apparently without recognizing that the New York Post article you were citing was a republication, not the source.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/23/portlands-protests-were-supposed-be-about-black-lives-now-theyre-white-spectacle/

It's pretty common for strong journalism or respected opinions to be cited by, or republished in, a number of media outlets, with different political viewpoints. If Woodward and Bernstein had been republished in the New York Post, would you discount them as well, because a media outlet with which you disagreed republished their journalism?

Are you seriously suggesting the head of the Portland NAACP is right wing?

Again, NO ONE is saying whites can't be allies. The point is just that whites should be taking their marching orders from the Black leaders - not running the show or trying to be the show.

This is hardly a new or controversial idea about allyship:

1. Remember that you are there as support and in solidarity—it’s not about you.
No matter how outraged or indignant you feel, a Black person will still have different feelings. Respect and be present to differences in emotion, experience, and politics. Consider that your role might be as a witness and support to others’ expressions rather than expressing your own feelings.

AFSC

While there is a long history of white participation in black freedom struggles, efforts to achieve substantive interracial solidarity are still plagued today by white activists centering themselves and levering movements for their own purposes.

In the deluge of 24-hour media coverage, cameras often pan to white protesters yelling slogans, simulating death and infiltrating organized protests by breaking windows, burning buildings and instigating black protesters to attack property and police. Local officials around the country say white agitators are inflaming conflicts, often while black leaders of demonstrations attempt to calm them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/02/white-people-black-protests/

Around the protests, how you show up is incredibly important. When white people show up to protests for the Movement for Black Lives, they are our guests. They are new for this. This might be exciting to them now, but this has been something that we have been living for generations and fighting for generations. So, you are showing up, and we’re happy to have you, you are our guests.

A white person’s job at a protest isn’t to spray paint “Black Lives Matter” on a building. It’s not to destroy stuff. It’s not to loot stores. Their job is not to mess with the cops and throw stuff. Their job at that protest, what they are there to do, is to do everything they can in their power to put their bodies between the bodies of black people and police. They should know if they’re there that they have the privilege of at least knowing that there will be more action taken if they die than if a black person does. Because not only is it disrespectful to disrupt our protests, but it actually is also doing direct harm to the black lives that these folks are supposed to be there to try to protect.

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP7--xiaXlAhVBgK0KHdaXDHcQPAgH


The naked protester made all about herself, not about Black Lives Matter. She was centering her body, not those of blacks who are being murdered.

This is such a core principle of allyship that I'm a bit shocked it is being challenged on DU.

[gollygee]

5. It seemed performative to me. nt

[Lunabell]

7. Perfection of a feminine protest.

Strong goddess energy!!

[janterry]

11. removing my response because the other post was removed

Last edited Mon Jul 27, 2020, 01:03 PM - Edit history (1)

and without context my question looks silly

[LeftInTX]

24. I don't get it

Everyone has body parts

I'm old and flabby..no..just no..maybe they would shoot me right there on the spot..😆

[burrowowl]

25. Kick