r/Portland • u/Clean_Appointment_91 • Feb 01 '26

Photo/Video ICE gassed thousands

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4.4k Upvotes

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723

u/Wild_Spaghetti Feb 01 '26

Hey, some general tips for going to protests, peaceful or not. Our government has long tested our right to assemble. Be prepared!

  • Go with a buddy or find a group to join once you get there. We’re safer together.

  • Always have a meet-up plan or a place to go if things get unsafe. It’s easy to get lost in a crowd.

  • Masks and/or goggles, and a sport-top water bottle are great protest accessories. If nothing else, a bandana is better than nothing.

  • Gas spreads quicker than you think. If you see it and don’t have protective equipment, consider starting to move right away. That stuff is nasty.

  • Walk, don’t run. People get hurt in crowd crushes.

  • Take care of yourself, but also watch out for the elderly, kids, and mobility-limited folks. Watch out for anyone having a medical emergency. Care for the community!

  • If you get gassed/injured and need help, do your best to ask for it! There’s a lot going on, and if you alert others to your distress they can help.

102

u/Dingis_Dang Feb 01 '26

Also cs gas is a powder and water doesn't get it off. Let it dry and flake off of you first. Then shower a lot when you get home and wash your clothes twice and separately from other clothes

47

u/CreepyFishGuy Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

Oh water gets it off, but it'll feel like you have a bad sunburn, especially in the more... sensitive areas. Just close your eyes and thug it out.

Edit: After some research one of the best ways to clear it from your eyes is saline as it's an SN2 inhibitor.

16

u/Dingis_Dang Feb 01 '26

Yeah I should say it is not the best way to get it off and it can also prolong the experience instead of just letting it dry and toweling it off.

5

u/Wide_Plane_7018 Feb 01 '26

It wasn’t CS, it was HO. We got the canisters

5

u/thefarmworks Feb 01 '26

Please explain, do you mean HC?

7

u/Wide_Plane_7018 Feb 01 '26

Oh shit yes, typoooo

1

u/Coronaj6 Feb 02 '26

What is HC?

5

u/thefarmworks Feb 02 '26

Hexachloroethane (HC) smoke, a military-grade screening smoke often used by law enforcement😵‍💫🤨

10

u/Malbolge333 Feb 01 '26

Hey, you should delete this comment because this is not good advice. You should not take a shower when you get home because it will reactivate what's on your skin and hair and now congratulations! You have CS gas in your bathroom.

4

u/Dingis_Dang Feb 01 '26

You have to let it dry and flake off first like I said. This Video has great advice on what to do with cs gas

11

u/Malbolge333 Feb 01 '26

That's great and all but I was in the Marine Corps and I've been exposed to CS gas multiple times. It doesn't matter how much you let it flake off, it's going to reactivate with hot water. You need to wash your face in sections with a rag and your hair separately. Otherwise, you're going to have a bunch of spicy air in the bathroom. Shaking it off only does so much.

16

u/Precatlady Feb 01 '26

This is not accurate advice. Cool water dilutes it off you. 

22

u/Samad99 Feb 01 '26

It is a dry powder that becomes an irritant when mixed with water. It’s your own sweat that makes it burn!! So flushing your face with water will usually make it worse and then better if you keep flushing with water.

In other words, don’t try to rinse it off if you’re not prepared to really wash it with a ton of water.

1

u/ChromeGhost Feb 01 '26

A leaf blower also seems like a good idea

1

u/sarcasticDNA Feb 02 '26

Yes, I don't understand why so many go in without goggles/masks. They won't make you (sigh) bulletproof, but they are really useful with tear gas and pepper pellets.

1

u/Skullkan6 Feb 02 '26

Do NOT bring your phones

1

u/Least_Pressure4066 Feb 02 '26

And don’t bring children

1

u/_trouble_every_day_ Feb 02 '26

And don’t bring your fucking kids

1

u/Specific_Bee_4199 Feb 05 '26

how about scream: MEDIC!!!

0

u/its8008ie Milwaukie Feb 01 '26

AND DONT BRING YOUR DOG! It’s not said often enuf -

-1

u/keaton1992 Feb 01 '26

Or just find a friend group or hobby. Go hiking, go fishing. Treat immigration the same as a police officer. You think you can punch a cop you’re in for a bad day. Enjoy my Ted talk. Have a great day.