The Oregon Health & Science University Hospital’s air ambulances were diverted to local airports on Saturday due to an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) organization holding a “laser party” protest in Portland, Oregon, to “fight back” against the Trump administration.
Rose City Counter-Info, an anti-ICE organization that describes itself on its website as an “anarchist counter-info platform in so-called Portland, Oregon,” circulated a flyer online encouraging Portland residents to engage in a “laser tag” protest against the use of helicopters by federal law enforcement officials in the city.
“Every night for weeks we are forced to listen to the threatening rhythm of helicopter blades as the federal regime spies on us. The only limit power knows is our refusal to submit. This Saturday, October 11th, at 9pm you are invited to fight back,” the flyer stated. “All you need is a laser. Leave home – they can see where the laser is coming from. Go to a park, a field, or some other public place, and once the clock strikes 9 unleash your beam at the cop copter. Mask up. Coordinate with friends to throw a laser party.”
“Let’s take back the night together,” the flyer added. “It won’t take many of us to ground the helicopters!”
Rose City Counter-Info encouraged protesters to wear gloves and use alcohol to clean the lasers and avoid leaving any trace of DNA for law enforcement officials to investigate.
In a statement obtained by KGW, Oregon Health & Science University confirmed that multiple air ambulance providers were expected to be diverted to local airports due to the providers’ refusal to land at the university hospital’s rooftop helipad over concerns regarding the “laser party” protest. The university warned that the helicopters would be forced to land at local airports and that patients would then transported by ground ambulance to the hospital, which would delay the emergency transportation time by 45 to 60 minutes.
“For most patients, that will be an acceptable delay. However, for some sensitive situations, such as unstable trauma patients, STEMIs and strokes, the delay could have real impacts.”
KGW reported that the hospital warned local residents not to participate in Saturday’s “extremely dangerous” laser protest and warned staff regarding the “additional transit time” that would need to be included in their “decision-making” on Saturday.
The Department of Homeland Security also warned against participating in laser attacks, tweeting, “Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime. This is incredibly dangerous for the aircraft personnel and for the public’s safety. Antifa domestic terrorists WILL NOT overrun our cities. We will bust their networks and bring every one of them to justice.”
According to Fox News, the Portland Police Bureau confirmed that no laser attacks were reported on Saturday evening.
