Portland Rioters Attack Police Building, Numerous Arrests Made
Rioters in Portland, Oregon, late Thursday set fire to plywood attached to the front door of a police union building in Oregon’s largest city and clashed with officers, who made 14 arrests, police said in a statement.
Images posted online showed flames erupting outside the doors of the Portland Police Association office.
Fire started outside PPA building. #koin6news #PDX #Oregon #Portland #PNW #PortlandProtests #protest pic.twitter.com/dkyNxEvnMi
— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) September 25, 2020
Some rioters managed later to get on the roof of the building, police said in a statement Friday.
The demonstrators who were detained were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to interfering with officers and trespassing.
Press Release: Mass Gathering Sets Fire to Portland Police Association Office and Vandalizes Property; Unlawful Assembly Declared
Link: https://t.co/zMryrDYuFJ pic.twitter.com/wAnYrh7Gyy— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 25, 2020
The violence came a day after people hurled several firebombs at officers during a demonstration over a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, police said.
The city has endured four months of near-nightly demonstrations and riots by antifa and other leftist agitators.
Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said Wednesday night’s demonstrations were the most violent that Portland has experienced since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt — who has been criticized for dismissing cases against hundreds of protesters — condemned the violence and called for calm.
Schmidt said in a statement that he was “alarmed and angry after witnessing the violence in downtown Portland on Wednesday night.”
“What started as a peaceful gathering to support the family of Breonna Taylor was overtaken by people who engaged in dangerous and criminal behavior,” he said. “I am thankful that no Portland police officers or Portland firefighters were injured after a flaming object was thrown and then exploded just inches away from them. There is no justification for a person to ever throw an incendiary device, to set fire to buildings or to engage in other violent and destructive behavior.
“I stand against hate and violence. Neither promotes the reform that is being demanded in our community and across the country. My office will always support and defend the right to free speech and the right to peacefully assemble, and we will always condemn violence.”
Fourteen people were arrested during Wednesday night’s demonstration.
Overnight on 24–25 Sept., a group of BLM-antifa rioters gathered in north Portland & attacked the @PortlandPolice union hall again. They set fire to the building, vandalized property & prevented drivers from using the road. #PortlandRiots #antifa https://t.co/Z6xhkwNRlp pic.twitter.com/z7YUsSrm1e
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 25, 2020
U.S. agents with the Federal Protective Service, who were guarding a federal courthouse nearby, offered assistance during the demonstration and Portland police accepted because it was an “emergency need in the moment,” Davis told reporters Thursday.
More violence is expected this weekend with antifa and the right-wing Proud Boys both planning rallies.
“On Saturday, there will likely be two large gatherings in North Portland,” Schmidt said. “It is never acceptable to engage in violent or destructive behavior. We have already seen too much violence, harm and even death during past demonstrations.
“For those who are thinking about traveling to Oregon to engage in criminal conduct — our message is clear: Stay away.
“For people who attend the events: Leave your weapons behind. Don’t give someone who wants to promote violence a platform by engaging with them.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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