Non-scalable fences were re-installed in Mark O’Hatfield’s courthouse in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday after rioters vandalized the building this past weekend, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to FOX News.
Oregon Live reporter Maxine Bernstein shared photos of city workers erecting the fence on Twitter.
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Portland has been home to frequent protests, including numerous violent clashes between officers and protesters, since the death of police on George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. During the summer, there were more than 100 consecutive days of protests.
The fence was installed in June to help ease tensions between city police and protesters after Floyd’s death, according to FOX 12 Oregon, but allegedly turned into a point of contention.
Police said at the time that they acknowledged that the fence had become a ‘symbol of division’ between the department and the community, and that they would remove the fence to show that we were willing to have a dialogue and peaceful communication. to start healing our community. “
“We are open and listening to discussions about how the community in the future predicts that the police will serve them,” the department said in a series of tweets. “Our hope is that the nightly violence and destruction around the justice center will stop and put the focus on a peaceful conversation.”
Local and federal officials held talks over several months to determine the best time to remove the fence. The Department of Homeland Security told FOX 12 on Friday that the decision to remove the fence on Wednesday was “taken in conjunction with local Portland leaders as part of a broader effort to help the city return to normal” . ”
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Just one day after the fence was removed, however, rioters marched in the streets of Portland and lit fires.
Earlier in the day Thursday, a crowd gathered to protest plans to replace and expand an oil pipeline running between Superior, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Alberta, journalist Suzette Smith reported on Twitter.
Some protesters also cite the start of the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota as a reason for the unrest, Smith wrote. Chauvin is the former Minneapolis police officer on trial on charges of murdering Floyd in May 25.
Federal officials deployed firearms, tear gas, instant grenades and smoke bombs after protesters threw objects at the courthouse, lit a fire with plywood that pulled the building down and broke glass near the entrance, according to Camila Orti of Fox 12.
Thursday’s violence in Portland was expected, with some business owners taking up their businesses earlier in the day, OregonLive.com reports.
Whether anyone was arrested or injured was not immediately clear.
Slideshow: PORTLAND POLICE, PROTESTERS INVOLVED AT STAND NEAR FEDERAL COURT
The violence continued until Friday, with police arresting a group of about 100 people in a march that resulted in the destruction of property in Portland’s Pearl District. At around 21:00 on Friday, the group started marching in the street blocking vehicle traffic from Jamison Park, 810 North West 11th Avenue.
Police beat demonstrators by loudspeaker to inform you that the street was open to vehicular traffic, but the crowd continued to go up in the street.
At around 21:15 at North West 15th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street, some in the crowd started breaking windows and officers moved in to address the criminal behavior and a perimeter around the group in Northwest Marshall Street between Northwest 13th Avenue and Northwest 14th Avenue.
This Friday, March 12, 2021, the photo released by the Portland Police Bureau shows shattered windows left by people inside the perimeter of a march by a group of about 100 hundred protesters Friday night in Portland, Ore. On Saturday, March 13, 2021, according to police, officers surrounded the protesters about 15 minutes after the march in the Pearl District of the city at 9 p.m., as some windows began to break. (Portland Police Department via AP)
Police have warned the group that they are being held for investigation into crimes, that they are not free to leave, and that they must comply with the lawful orders of the officers, or face or use violence, including, but not limited to, crowd control. agents, firearms or tear gas. In addition, authorities invited lawful observers, press, and anyone who was medically fragile or anyone in need of immediate medical attention to leave the enclosed area if they wished.
Individuals detained were identified and photographed as part of the investigation before their release. Some refused to comply and joined forces in an attempt to interfere with the investigation. Officers escorted them and they were arrested, including one charged with vandalism that was earlier in the window.
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This Friday, March 12, 2021, the photo released by the Portland Police Bureau shows numerous items left behind by people within the vicinity of a march, including a crowbar, hammers, bear spray, sniper rifle, large-impact slingshot and knives, after they mourned a group of about 100 hundred protesters Friday night in Portland, Ore. On Saturday, March 13, 2021, police said officers surrounded protesters about 9 minutes after the march began in the city’s Pearl District at 9 p.m. because some windows began to break. (Portland Police Department via AP)
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This Friday, March 12, 2021, a photo released by the Portland Police Department shows numerous items left behind by people inside the perimeter of a march, including slingshot and knives with a large impact, after leaving a group of about 100 hundred protesters Friday night in Portland, Ore. On Saturday, March 13, 2021, police said officers surrounded protesters about 15 minutes after the march in the city of Pearl District began at 9 p.m., as some windows began to break. (Portland Police Department via AP)
Officers discovered numerous objects left behind by people inside the area, including a crowbar, hammers, bar spray, sneaky weapon with rocks, slingshot with large impact and knives
As the opportunity unfolded, groups formed on the outside and officers were physically challenged. Some threw stones and cans of beer at officers. Officers used some OC (pepper) spray and one shot ammunition.
Thirteen people are facing charges of the protest, including disorderly conduct, illegal possession of a firearm, resistance to arrest and interference with the police, among other offenses.
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Following Friday’s violence, the Department of Homeland Security told FOX 12 that the Federal Protection Services Unit “will fulfill its mandate to ensure the safety and security of federal employees and facilities, while continuing our commitment to working with the City of Portland. and maintain the community. as part of a joint effort to restore the city center. ‘
Fox News’ Dom Calicchio and the Associated Press contributed to this report.