By Joel Abbott
Portland police declared a riot Thursday evening as a crowd of around 100 people turned violent, attacking a federal courthouse and causing damage to local businesses.
Much of the crowd has broken up into smaller groups and spread out downtown. A large amount of burned debris will continue to block Southwest Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
â Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 1, 2021
If you do not leave you are subject to arrest, citation, and/or the use of force, including but not limited to impact weapons and tear gas.
â Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 1, 2021
Shortly before midnight, the department warned that individuals would be subject to arrest and use of force if they did not disperse.
Many rioters chose to stay and confront the police, throwing firebombs, bricks, and commercial-grade fireworks at officers. Several officers were also hit with paint-filled balloons, which they believed may have contained a caustic substance since it “caused burning to the skin.”
Outnumbered law enforcement retreated as antifa launched attacks on them in downtown Portland at the riot. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/3uysqRMlnS
â Andy NgĂŽ (@MrAndyNgo) January 1, 2021
In addition to attacking the courthouse, rioters also set fires in the streets, shattered windows, and destroyed the property of more than a dozen local businesses.
A Starbucks is ransacked in downtown Portland during tonightâs anti-police, anti-capitalism New Years Eve demonstration #PortlandProtests #NewYearsEve #Portland pic.twitter.com/uH2HG7jpTU
â Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 1, 2021
Officers managed to break up the riot around 2 a.m. after using impact munitions to disperse the crowd.
Before the riot, a protest had been promoted on social media by various groups, including the Youth Liberation Front, which said the event was “in solidarity with BLM” and told people to “get loud.”
Tonight!
Chapman Square, 9 PM
New Year, Same Goal!
Autonomously organized, bloc up & be water.
No streamers · no megaphones · no masters!
Get loud. ? pic.twitter.com/uMzqHFWV1Jâ PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) December 31, 2020
