Police in Portland declared a riot while Oujaarsaandbetoging gets out of control

Police in Portland declared a riot on New Year’s Eve just before 11pm local time after protesters smashed windows, set off fireworks and set fire near the federal courthouse, reports KOIN, a subsidiary of CBS News.

Less than half an hour later, Portland police advanced the protesters, who responded by firing fireworks at them, KOIN said. Homeland Security officials, who have been in the city for months to help police, frequent protests that have often turned violent, confronted by another group in the city.

The violence of the crowd led to a declaration of a riot. All persons in the vicinity of Suidwes 3rd Avenue around Suidwes Main Street are instructed to leave immediately to the south and west. (prosecute)

– Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) 1 January 2021

KOIN said police used pepper spray or foil against the protesters at the main site, near the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse building. It was heard that pepper balls, rubber bullets or another type of deadly ammunition had been fired.

Protesters gathered in downtown Portland near police headquarters earlier in the evening and then marched through the streets, smashing a Starbucks window before setting off fireworks, spray-painting graffiti on several buildings and setting some fire on the road or sidewalk. has.

KOIN said there was no clear focus for the event, but kites at the scene said it was being held “Solidarity with BLM”. The demonstration was announced via posts on social media.

At one point, the protesters aimed fireworks at the courthouse.

It came a day after nearly a dozen Portland businesses in downtown were vandalized, KOIN quoted Portland police, including Portland City Hall, the Oregon Historical Society, TriMet and the Portland Police Bureau.

KOIN said no arrests were made, but an investigation is ongoing.

Portland has been rocked by protests since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. By order of the Trump administration, federal agents deployed to Portland in July to suppress violence. After weeks of violent clashes that included tear gas being fired at protesters and dozens of arrests, federal agents began withdrawing at the end of July.

President Trump used the protests in Portland as a rally in his failed attempt at re-election and saw himself as a ‘law and order’ leader amid nationwide unrest.