Thread by @TheHannahRay

Scene in downtown Portland right now. Featuring the new elk statue and a Federal Courthouse that has had a lot of the graffiti removed.

Speeches at the Justice Center. This man has harsh words for "opportunists" who want to burn things or break into the buildings.

"Take your motherf***ing punk a** home. ... We are tired of our people getting hurt behind your bullsh*t."

The same man said he tried to go to the eastside protest yesterday. Claims protesters wouldn't let him in.

"They told me I could not come up in there. Not the police. The people. I'm Black."

For background, there has been much division between so-called "peace police" (including JC crowd) & other demonstrators.

Case in point: Next speaker said we have to "incite peace" not violence. Across the street, someone reminded people they don't have to listen to that.

JC speakers let another demonstrator take the mic. He spoke out against "peace police."

"Us peacefully sitting in the park is not gonna bring change."

First fire I've seen tonight. A fake pig head and a Trump flag. Then a mortar went off nearby. The crowd has moved to the Federal Courthouse area by now. There has been some fence rattling, but this was the first major excitement.

Another fire, this one in front of fed courthouse. Another mortar just went off too.

Fake pig heads don't burn well. Someone chucked it over the fence.

Lots of stuff (including more fireworks) went over the fence for a while. A Black man was walking around with a megaphone scolding people, telling them this is what "Trump wants." Then another Black man told him to stop.

LRAD warning people to stop participating in criminal activity near the courthouse.

Now the shield wall has assembled on 3rd and Main.

There was a commotion on the PPB entrance side of the Justice Center. I got there just as police were retreating into the building.

Right after that, the garage door started rising at the First and Main parking garage. Crowd didn't want to let the cars out at first, saying they were cops. Some others finally talked them into letting the cars out.

Unlawful assembly declared.

Police moving in.

Pushing people to the parks.

An arrest in front of the courthouse.

Rushing people north on 3rd.

From several minutes ago. Paint, bottles and fireworks were thrown at police. Riot declared. Police used some sort of gas that knocked me out of commission for a while. Apologies to anyone watching the KOIN livestream.

Crowd regrouped just in time for teargas round two.

An arrest on some stairs near Park and Main.

Police and troopers were getting ready to leave when they got into a shoving match with some people. It looks like one trooper punched someone in the head (they were wearing a helmet). Then they pepper sprayed someone else.

I had almost made it back to the parks when police started marching people up Main again. It was honestly mostly press in the area, though. This video shows them driving away again.

Very small group has returned to the police side of the Justice Center. Demetria Hester with the megaphone. Looks like the sheriff's office is here too.

Most of the officers left, but this group has been standing in the garage for a longggggggg time.

I was about to leave, but then saw PPB cars and motorcycles doing laps around the downtown area. Not really sure what the purpose was.

Officers came out again and formed a line. A repair truck just pulled in, I think for the garage door. There is a small group over here still taunting officers.

I have left the Justice Center. Watching a garage door get fixed didn't seem that entertaining. Now I'm off to wash the remaining teargas off my face.