Riding against violence: Two Portlanders’ story of using a bike ride to call for peace

As every bike-lover knows, it’s not really about the bike.

For Jason Washington and DeMarcus Preston, 40ish Portlanders and friends who were fed up with local shootings last summer, a bike ride seemed like a natural way to wipe aside a cycle of gang violence and bring the community together into “one gang” in the best sense of the word.

Filmmakers Joe Biel and Elly Blue ask Washington and Preston to tell that story, or at least part of it, for a new short film in their “Groundswell” series about underdog bike heroes around the country. This is the first in the series to focus on Portlanders (though it won’t be the last). Portland-based Microcosm Publishing will officially release this episode, “Take Back the Streets,” tomorrow on the series’ website. But they were nice enough to give BikePortland readers this advance view.

Advertisement

This episode begins with Washington and Preston talking about their personal connections both to bikes and to Portland’s African-American community. Then it talks about the pair’s big idea last summer to bring the community together for a bike ride and social gathering. (We covered the event here.)

In the second half, the two talk about the diaspora of North Portland’s black community and about black culture more generally. Preston lays out his concept for a house in Portland, modeled on his own life-changing experience in the U.S. military, that would give young men a more positive and meaningful experience than jail.

Then, at the end, they shift into a subject that will be familiar to every BikePortland reader: the weirdly simple joys of riding a bike.

“I know once I started riding my bike, I feel a lot, not so stiff, a lot looser, you know what I’m saying?” Preston said. “Kind of make you feel athletic. You feel good about riding, too. … It’s just the first couple of days you’ve got to get through.”

Want to see more? Check out the previous film in Biel and Blue’s Groundswell series, in which they chronicle the promising rise and distressing collapse, over the last few years, of the League of American Bicyclists’ equity initiative.

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen was news editor of BikePortland.org from 2013 to 2016 and still pops up occasionally.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

5 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bill Stites
8 years ago

Great, uplifting story. I would appreciate the opportunity to participate in the future.
What’s the best way to keep up on this Take Back The Streets group – through the CCC?

Elly
8 years ago
Reply to  Bill Stites

Hi Bill, I’m glad the story moved you. The one concrete ask we came away with here is to help DeMarcus make his plan for a safe house a reality. He needs funding, legal help, a physical house, and the political backing from the city. If anyone has anything to offer in those regards I’m happy to connect you with him.

Dead Salmon
Dead Salmon
8 years ago
Reply to  Elly

I thought the goobermint just voted in something like $60,000,000 dollars for affordable housing? Yup, they did, see below. Send a link to this Bike Portland article to goobernator Brown and tell her to write y’all a check. (Pocket a little for yourselves – that’s the way it’s done in goobermint.)
.
🙂
.
http://nlihc.org/article/field-oregon-advocates-win-unprecedented-60-million-new-affordable-housing-funding

Ann
Ann
8 years ago

I hadn’t seen the story about the original ride; glad to read it now.

Dead Salmon
Dead Salmon
8 years ago

Holy shirt! That video did NOT portray the MAX line in a good light. Stay away from MAX! 🙂

Shame that he has to get permission to ride a bike thru an area because of gangs. That’s what 50 years of LBJ’s welfare has given us.