Farewell to Fencie

They're taking down Fencie, the fence that has surrounded the federal courthouse in downtown Portland since the riots of last summer. The fence immediately became a symbol for a lot of unpleasant things.

I'm not sure the things it symbolizes have changed all that much. 

I hope it stays down, and that the courthouse doesn't again become the scene of intense ugliness and danger. We have a new President, and a new "homeland security" chief. There's a new U.S. attorney in town, too. Maybe the new folks will be able to keep the peace without barricades. 

But I wouldn't bet too much on that. Fencie may be back before long.