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Portland protesters smash businesses as locals scream at them to 'go home'
 [NYPOST] Protesters smashed up several businesses during the latest night of destruction in Portland, Oregon — with fed-up locals screaming at them to "go home," according to reports.Around 150 black-clad protesters marched through the troubled City of Roses late Saturday, trashing businesses during "direct action" against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Oregonian said. "Windows were broken at a grocery store, restaurant, bank, shipping business, and multiple coffee shops," Portland police said of the two-hour rampage. Targets included a Chipotle, Starbucks and even an Urban Pantry, KOIN News said, with social media images showing anti-ICE graffiti also scrawled across numerous buildings, including the ICE buidling. A security car was completely destroyed, according to one video on social media — while another clip showed the mob shining lights at diners as they banged against the windows. It was the worst violence in weeks in the city which saw almost constant destruction last year. Many locals appeared to have had enough, with KOIN News news hound Jennifer Cowling catching one local ticking off a protester shouting "police go home" by yelling, "You go home!" "Ten years from now, what are you gonna do? Keep doing the same thing?" a shirtless man screamed at the mob from his balcony, according to videographer Brendan Gutenschwager. [Twitter]
Police resources to deal with the riot had been strained by multiple shootings in the city that same evening. The riot began at about 9 p.m. Pacific and lasted over two hours. Police warned the rioters over the loudspeaker with this message: To those marching in the Pearl District: Officers have observed and community members have reported members of this group have damaged buildings in the Pearl District. Immediately stop participating in criminal behavior including damaging property. Failure to adhere to this order may subject perpetrators to detention, citation, arrest, or use of crowd control agents, including, but not limited to, tear gas and/or impact weapons. Immediately stop participating in criminal activity. The news release went on to explain that "while tear gas use is currently restricted, state law requires that warning be given." The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) explained that few officers were available to deal with the rioters due to multiple shootings across the city. "Police response was constrained by multiple shooting incidents happening across the city, limiting the officers available to address the criminal behavior in the protest. Still, officers responded to the criminal behavior and made two arrests. Items that could be used as weapons were seized, including a large bat," PPB reported in a news release. Police arrested one adult and one teenager. "The adult was issued a criminal citation and released (due to current COVID-19 restrictions for booking at the Multnomah County Detention Center). The juvenile was released to his parents and will be given a future hearing date," the release explained. Last June, the Portland City Council voted to cut at least $15 million from the police budget, eliminating 84 positions. Related: Portland: 2021-02-27 Hawley to introduce $15 minimum wage hike for big businesses Portland: 2021-02-26 Video evidence showing antifa ''activist,'' engaging in multiple violent criminal offenses at the Portland riot Portland: 2021-02-26 Biden revokes Trump order to cut funding from New York City, Portland and Seattle 'anarchist' havens after BLM protests Posted by: Fred 2021-03-01 |
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