Five protesters have been arrested for their alleged part in the violent riots that rocked Portland on the anniversary of George Floyd’s death this week. (Story continues below.)
More than 200 rioters descended on the streets of downtown Portland on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Portland PD. Many were wearing helmets and carrying gas masks.
The crowd first blocked one of the intersections in downtown Portland, near the Multnomah County Justice Center.
Protesters started dumpster fires and pushed the flaming dumpsters against the Justice Center, trying to burn it down. The same Justice Center which was set on fire a year ago.
Portland #antifa tried to burn down the Justice Center tonight to commemorate their burning of the same occupied facility a year ago. #BLM pic.twitter.com/jZW8mIwIl1
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 26, 2021
According to the police, rioters tried to hide their actions with umbrellas and smoke bombs, while chanting that the building should be burned down.
#Antifa set off a smoke bomb to conceal themselves before proceeding to smash up Portland City Hall at the #GeorgeFloyd riot tonight. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/HYMOvzL3op
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 26, 2021
The police finally declared an unlawful assembly, and the clashes with the police started. According to the Portland PD, rioters threw “frozen water bottles, glass bottles, eggs and metal spikes” and even fired “mortar-style fireworks” at the officers.
#Portland #Antifa throw fireworks at policepic.twitter.com/1RnOVvkeTK
— AntifaWatch (@AntifaWatch2) May 26, 2021
During the clashes with the police, some rioters incited others to move so they can destroy property throughout the city. And that’s exactly what happened, as the following videos show.
More window smashing at a Jewelry storepic.twitter.com/Ehjq1uWB96
— AntifaWatch (@AntifaWatch2) May 26, 2021
More destruction:
More window smashing, there's a ton more pictures/videos like this currently being sharedpic.twitter.com/JVAlF71mY1
— AntifaWatch (@AntifaWatch2) May 26, 2021
Of course, Starbucks was targeted again:
“F— capitalism”
“Die Nazis”Portland #antifa smashed up another Starbucks & threw a firework inside to try and set the place on fire. pic.twitter.com/Yu1L0x6ItS
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 26, 2021
The destruction prompted the police to declare a riot. At least five people were arrested, for charges including rioting, arson and criminal mischief.
#Portland #Antifa setting fire to the US flag.pic.twitter.com/nrOVoHWzGg
— AntifaWatch (@AntifaWatch2) May 26, 2021
