OPINION
Police said protesters remained peaceful in downtown Portland for about four hours Sunday night before they began blocking streets and lighting fires.
According to police, demonstrators gathered near Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square, near Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Main Street, at around 6 p.m. For four hours, the group “socialized”, ate food, banged drums, and listened to speeches.
However, at around 10 p.m., police said the group began blocking traffic in the area and lit a bonfire in the troughs at the base of where the elk statue used to stand.
Video below:
Antifa have set the former Portland elk fountain on fire again. Video by @livesmattershow pic.twitter.com/CR7EM8irIl
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
The group propped wood against the federal courthouse and lit it on fire, police said.
Video below:
Antifa are trying to set the federal courthouse on fire again. This is why federal law enforcement were deployed to protect it. Portland city officials would allow it to burn down to appease mob. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/HTai3U7N4F
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
As Portland Fire and Rescue approached to put out the fire, someone fired a ball bearing from a wrist rocket at the firefighters.
As this fire continued to grow, firefighters responded. A rioter shot a ball bearing at them using a slingshot. There were no arrests.
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
But what the police or the federal authorities didn’t mention is the fact that the feds and the local police officers stayed inside for most of the night after city council members’ Jo Ann Hardesty and Commissioner Eudaly gave statements demanding police stop responding.
End/ We have had more than enough. The federal troops need to withdraw immediately, and after that we have the hard task of picking up the pieces and responding to what the public and this movement asks of us.
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) July 12, 2020
5/ Even prior to the federal troops entering Portland, reports and videos of police violently responding to protesters came out nightly. Watching things reach a boiling point, I sent an open letter to Chief Lovell
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) July 12, 2020
My response to the federal troop actions in Portland (Thread) pic.twitter.com/k7xxcn1QHw
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) July 12, 2020
Also, let’s not forget Portland’s mayor restrictions, following yesterday’s violence at the antifa/BLM riot, the Portland mayor called for federal law enforcement to follow the same restrictions he placed on:
to end the nightly violence as quickly and safely as possible. I am calling on the federal government to adhere to the same directives as our Portland Police Bureau when it comes to crowd control munitions.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 13, 2020
Andy Ngo who was on the field once again reported about the lack of federal authorities and local police officers:
Antifa have started another fire in the street. There is no federal or local law enforcement out tonight following the city council members’ statements (@JoAnnPDX & @ChloeEudalyPDX) demanding police stop responding. Video by @VenturaReport. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/EitOi0r0An
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
Peterson’s convenience store in downtown Portland has been broken into near the violent antifa protest. There are no police responding to the robbery.
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
There were to separate attack on innocent taxpayers where the police didn’t react:
Videos below:
Antifa harass and assault person filming them at the public gathering in Portland. On social media they have released names and photos of non-approved media & cameramen. Recently they beat & robbed a livestreamer. Video by @livesmattershow pic.twitter.com/ijqzf3Fwsu
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
Antifa take an older man’s bicycle and then sucker punch him at the Portland riot. pic.twitter.com/5Gux2iJiWB
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2020
The police finally decided to “react” and made a statement this morning:
Portland Police are securing the area near SW 3rdAve and SW Main St because of a fire. Smoke is entering the Justice Center creating a hazard for all persons inside. Anyone in the the area move so members Portland Fire & Rescue may safely extinguish the fire. Move away now.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 13, 2020
Editor”s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily express the views of Red State Nation.
