Portland experienced another night of violence, looting, and widespread arson as demonstrators took to the streets, attempting to break into the federal courthouse and lighting several fires throughout the city, prompting a response from federal law enforcement.
Protesters gathered downtown late Monday night and targeted the Federal Courthouse and Justice Center, vandalizing the buildings and attempting to break into them. According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), demonstrators “tampered with and climbed on the gate leading under the Justice Center and pounded on plywood on the exterior of the building” and “behaved similarly at the Federal Courthouse.”
Police said protesters, who were equipped with hammers, crowbars, hammers, shields, helmets, gas masks, “and other pry tools,” pounded on the courthouse and broke the plywood covering one side of the building. They successfully broke through the plywood after midnight and broke “at least one window”:
The protest crowds in Portland continue to grow in response to the arrival of the feds.
There are probably about 2,000 people here right now in front of the Justice Center, with moms in yellow lined up in front, stretching across a whole block. pic.twitter.com/oCuO7Lx7pP
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 21, 2020
The only reason they would choose to attack the federal courthouse is because they know federal agents must respond to stop them. https://t.co/0nsD0Wc3qq
— Claude Loves Guarantee Mechanisms (@Th3Claude) July 21, 2020
Rioters were successful in tearing off part of the protective barrier of the Portland federal courthouse. They then try to shatter the glass so that they can start a fire inside. They had some success doing that two weeks ago. Video by @NancyRomm. #antifa pic.twitter.com/KpcNi7mp0S
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Person punches the plywood protecting the Portland federal courthouse. Others try kicking it. pic.twitter.com/GLdl95qdmZ
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Rioters are tearing away the protective barrier of the Portland federal courthouse piece-by-piece. #antifa #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/2wAIWC4Z4T
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Demonstrators threw rocks and bottles at federal officers, who attempted to disperse the crowd around 12:38 a.m. Protesters continued engaging in acts of lawlessness well into the early hours of Tuesday morning, throwing several objects, including “glass and plastic bottles, wood, pieces of metal, rocks and other debris” at the courthouse and lighting fires nearby:
Avoid the area around SW 3rd and SW Main. Portland Police is aware that federal law enforcement have deployed CS gas. Hundreds of people are scattering around the adjacent streets. People are throwing projectiles and are armed with clubs hammers and other weapons. Avoid the area
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 21, 2020
As the PPB detailed:
At about 2:24 a.m. people lit a fire near a door on the SW Salmon Street side of the courthouse. Federal law enforcement put it out. At 2:29 a.m. people poured an accelerant on the plywood over the door on the front of the courthouse and ignited it. Federal officers dispersed the crowd using various munitions.
At 2:45 a.m. several dozen people blocked off SW Salmon Street at SW 5th Avenue with fencing and an assortment of other material stolen from nearby properties. People continued to light fires downtown including a fire on the awning and side of a building, at SW 4th Avenue and SW Yamhill Street, which required Portland Fire & Rescue to respond. At about 3:00 a.m. another fire was burning in the middle of the sidewalk north side of the County Courthouse, which required Portland Fire & Rescue response. Before they arrived people continually added flammable material to it causing it to grow and burn against the building. Portland Police responded to provide security for firefighters.
According to the PPB, one individual hurled a glass bottle at the officers, who were near the courthouse providing security to firefighters.
Authorities also received a call after 3 a.m. of a jewelry store break-in.
“Portland Police responded and found the windows broken out and could see that valuables had been removed. Officers searched the area for the suspects. A vehicle fled the scene as officers investigated,” the PPB reported, adding that a caller “reported that windows at City Hall were broken out”:
Trying to break down the door of the federal courthouse pic.twitter.com/9sWQyiMT7M
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 21, 2020
Some protesters tore away part of the wood barrier protecting the glass entrance of the Portland federal courthouse. The “moms” have moved up front where antifa black bloc are. They’re readying shields and umbrellas. pic.twitter.com/RizaxiVKGA
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Marchers shout their feelings about the mayor while behind them, youngsters start trying to figure out how to break into federal building. Previously there’d been a fence to tear down. Without it, there’s been a lot of milling about. Still no police presence, zilch pic.twitter.com/s9mNxO8S9Z
— Nancy Rommelmann (@NancyRomm) July 21, 2020
A man climbs up the protective barricade at the Portland federal courthouse and taunts the officers inside through an opening. pic.twitter.com/xPugX2Pq45
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Rioters are trying to face off with federal law enforcement. They have a line formation with shields and are moving on command. Note the communist symbol. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/z3kFeCi8ZP
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
This is why federal law enforcement were using vans and cars to make discreet arrests of violent suspects: Rioters surround and attack an officer in the process of making an arrest outside the courthouse. The suspect escapes. pic.twitter.com/U26MKxOZff
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Antifa rioters started a fire and have regrouped to face off with law enforcement. They’re throwing projectiles. #PortlandMoms #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/KY5g2lVWmD
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 21, 2020
Protestor throws tear gas canister back, another comes in with the leaf blower pic.twitter.com/G8Zj3n6XQL
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 21, 2020
Here’s the fire in front of the federal courthouse pic.twitter.com/Nr5ebVvRzh
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 21, 2020
The PPB affirmed that its officers made no arrests.
President Trump has defended the presence of federal law enforcement in the city and has teased sending more to other progressive cities experiencing waves of violence and unrest.
“We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE,” Trump said on Sunday.
“These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!” he added:
We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2020
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) has soured at the federal government’s intervention, claiming that the involvement is “making the situation much more dangerous.”
He recently signed a letter with the mayors of Atlanta, Chicago, D.C., Seattle, and Kansas City against federal intervention in their cities.
“The President is attacking progressive cities with a classic ‘divide and conquer’ tactic,” Wheeler said.
“We must not fall prey to this. Nationwide, we must stand together for peace and for reform against those who would oppose it,” he added.
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