All We Have Is Each Other, David Rovics' Blog

The FOP on Fire #PortlandProtests — By David Rovics

By David Rovics
July 19th, 2020

Many people are not aware that Portland, Oregon is the biggest city in a state with a long history of institutional racism (founded as a White Homeland), and a city with a long history of being run on behalf of long line of white property owners with inherited wealth, such as the current mayor, who has presided over the ethnic cleansing of this city through gentrification, who is the police commissioner of a toxic, profoundly unaccountable police department with a terrible and very recent history of carnage. But maybe you did hear about the fire last night.

Lyrics:

The FOP On Fire I was at home with the kids when I woke up at 5 am Looked at the news in time to hear pundits condemn
The actions of the arsonists who expressed so many desires
When they made a barricade and set the FOP on fire

It happened in North Portland on the 51st consecutive night
Of demonstrations in this city, in this epic fight
Between those who defend the inequities of the empire
And those with a vision for the future that starts with the FOP on fire

Between those who like to fumigate Portland’s lovely streets
Who prefer to use chemical weapons when they’re not wearing those white sheets
Or the ones who do Nazi cosplay, like some of the cops they hired
Just up until the night they set the FOP on fire

The cops drive from the suburbs, each day they come down
To defend the interests of the rich, such as the mayor of this town
And Mayor Ted loves his tear gas, though he might say that I’m a liar
But not the folks who last night set the FOP on fire

Let’s remember Aaron Campbell, let’s remember Kendra James
Let’s remember Alonso Tucker, say their names
And lets remember the many killers, in this progressive shire
As the smoke rose up behind them with the FOP on fire

The FOP On Fire I was at home with the kids when I woke up at 5 am Looked at the news in time to hear pundits condemn The actions of the arsonists who expressed so many desires When they made a barricade and set the FOP on fire It happened in North Portland on the 51st consecutive night Of demonstrations in this city, in this epic fight Between those who defend the inequities of the empire And those with a vision for the future that starts with the FOP on fire Between those who like to fumigate Portland’s lovely streets Who prefer to use chemical weapons when they’re not wearing those white sheets Or the ones who do Nazi cosplay, like some of the cops they hired Just up until the night they set the FOP on fire The cops drive from the suburbs, each day they come down To defend the interests of the rich, such as the mayor of this town And Mayor Ted loves his tear gas, though he might say that I’m a liar But not the folks who last night set the FOP on fire Let’s remember Aaron Campbell, let’s remember Kendra James Let’s remember Alonso Tucker, say their names And lets remember the many killers, in this progressive shire As the smoke rose up behind them with the FOP on fire


David Rovics has been called the musical voice of the progressive movement in the US. Since the mid-90’s, Rovics has spent most of his time on the road, playing hundreds of shows every year throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Japan. He has shared the stage regularly with leading intellectuals, activists, politicians, musicians and celebrities. In recent years he’s added children’s music and essay-writing to his repertoire. More importantly, he’s really good. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, and he will make the revolution irresistible. Check out his pamphlet: Sing for Your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs, and Booking Your Own Gigs

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Sing for Your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs, and Booking Your Own Gigs