At first, the protests were mostly peaceful as they focused on honoring George Floyd & others victims of police violence. The majority of America agreed and supported demonstrations. But they quickly turned violent. kgw.com/article/news/l…
The violence ramps up quickly after earlier peaceful protests as "protesters" smash windows and loot stores.
Black leaders criticize destructive protests.
“It appears most of the young folks tearing up the city are younger white people,” Rob Herndon, Director of Albina Head Start oregonlive.com/portland/2020/…
"Portland a city of plywood"--Minneapolis was a lot like this at first. We have protests & gatherings, but nothing like this. Why aren't there riots here, at ground zero? Why Portland? Who are these "protesters" really?
Portland Mayor asked Kate Brown to activate the National Guard, stating: "We need help, we need more bodies to stop this senseless violence." (maybe that's why he was not warmly welcomed by protesters the other day). oregonlive.com/news/2020/06/p…
This lengthy video showcases how quickly things can escalate and how once again, the assertion that these were peaceful demonstrations is untrue.
Major changes: Portland Public Schools will no longer employ school resource officers (June 4) AND Chuck Lovell (African-American) takes over as Police Bureau Chief. But, nothing stems the violence. oregonlive.com/portland/2020/…
An attorney stated that throwing projectiles ("rocks, bottles, soup cans, bricks and fireworks at officers") at police and shaking a fence doesn't warrant tear gas. He asserts it is used on peaceful demonstrators.
oregonlive.com/crime/2020/06/…
Portland’s Deputy City Attorney Naomi stated that police were not using tear gas on peaceful protesters. There are "thousands of peaceful protesters who have shared that same rallying cry to descend nightly upon the city without police intervention."
Peaceful protests during the day morph into riots at night. Offices are broken into and set on fire. Property damage, looting, become a common occurrence. oregonlive.com/portland/2020/…
Businesses looted, more fires. Arrests made.
koin.com/news/protests/…
Lawmakers: Bar set much higher under which crowd control devices can be used; Trump signs executive order to protect monuments and combat "criminal violence"
There is a pattern to these events, which may be why so many ppl think they are peaceful. Peaceful protests are early in the day & become violent later in the evening.
Portland business owners who supported the protests initially now express frustration as their businesses were destroyed.
While the City and PPB support the protests, they file a claim with the US District Court about the objects being thrown at them, the fires and other "criminal activity." oregonlive.com/crime/2020/07/…
It is important to see the video from the article to understand the events that led up to the Portland police and federal responses. These are clips taken from the last six weeks.
Several news outlets claimed unidentified agents kidnapped protesters and took them away in unmarked vehicles. snopes.com/fact-check/fed…
Deputy secretary of Homeland Security stated that the agents aren't wearing name tags to protect them from doxing & harassment, but they have patches w/ numbers tied to their ID if someone wants to file a complaint. tiny.cc/gf8ksz
The way to convince the feds to leave is to . . . set buildings on fire.
They are not happy with the mayor. As he goes through the crowds he is heckled, has items thrown at him, and is shoved around. Misses seeing the fireworks shot into the building. Gets tear gassed after going UP TO the fence.
After enduring the gas (he didn't have to stand UP AT THE FENCE, but seems to want to appease the protesters) the mayor is hustled away by his security detail. He has harsh words for Trump & says he never observed any violence.