OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Protestors in Portland clashed with members of the Portland Police, as they hurled chunks of concrete and explosives at officers in what the police department has described as an “extremely dangerous situation.”
On Saturday, August 8, Portland Police declared a riot after a group of protesters gathered around the Penumbra Kelly Building.
Demonstrators — some of whom donned helmets and shields and blocked traffic on East Burnside Street — began throwing rocks, and later pieces of concrete, at officers:
Commercial Grade Fireworks, Concrete, Rocks, Eggs Launched at Officers During Mass Gathering at Kelly Building (Photo) https://t.co/g2RuVp1t4O pic.twitter.com/IioDUeierp
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 8, 2020
Overnight on 7–8 Aug., hundreds of #antifa again attacked the Penumbra Kelly police building in SE Portland. They blinded officers w/lasers & threw rocks & explosives at them. They lined the street w/nails & brawled w/cops using shields & body armor. https://t.co/xOy30vA8s0 pic.twitter.com/HxfzCnf30o
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 8, 2020
Hundreds of #antifa in black bloc carrying shields and weapons have surrounded the @PortlandPolice SE building. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/72CdTdKuXn
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 8, 2020
We have observed people in the area of E Burnside St and 47th Ave breaking apart a retaining wall at a nearby property. Officers have been struck by projectiles from this vandalism.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 8, 2020
The demonstrators were warned to stay off the property, however, many did not heed the warnings, which resulted in arrests.
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB):
“As the crowd continued to refuse to disperse from the area of the Kelly Building, targeted arrests were made. A person who was taken into custody was arrested wearing ballistic body armor (photo). Around 12 a.m., a vehicle was stopped and an occupant was arrested for shining a laser at the PPB’s air unit. At 12:10 a.m., individuals in the crowd gathered outside of the Kelly Building began throwing or launching frozen or hardboiled eggs, rocks, and commercial grade fireworks at officers positioned in the parking lot.”
“This ongoing criminal activity created an extremely dangerous situation. Public address announcements were continually made directing the group to disperse to the east. At 1 a.m., both Oregon State Police and PPB officers began dispersing the crowd to the east.”
More from Breitbart:
Officers continued to issue warnings and ultimately declared an unlawful assembly, but that did little to curb the violence. Demonstrators shined blinding lasers at officers and hurled rocks, bottles, eggs, and explosives at authorities.
As the officers dispersed the crowd, rocks, bottles, and explosives were continually launched at officers. Because of the danger posed by these projectiles, officers used crowd control munitions as they moved the group. Pool noodles (photo) were filled with nails by members of the group and placed on the roadway in an effort to damage police vehicle tires. One police vehicle suffered extensive tire damage.
