2016 Portland, Oregon riots

On November 10, 2016, three days of protests in Portland, Oregon, turned into a riot, when a group of anarchists[2][7] broke off from a larger group of peaceful protesters who were opposed to the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.

2016 Portland, Oregon protests
Part of the protests against Donald Trump
Protests in Portland, November 10–12, 2016
DateNovember 10–12, 2016
Location
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Caused byReaction to the election of Donald Trump as president
MethodsProtests, vandalism[1]
Parties to the civil conflict
Local demonstrators
Number
4,000[2]
Casualties
Injuries4[3][4][5]
Arrested113[6]

Riots

A number of businesses were damaged, and 26–29 people were arrested during the first day of the incident. Police used rubber bullets, pepper spray and flash bang devices to disperse the protesters who became violent.[8] During the riot, glass bottles and trash cans were thrown at police. Rioters used rocks and baseball bats to cause much of the damage. A dumpster was also lit on fire.[9] Members of the protest who opposed the violence intervened when a man tried to destroy a piece of electrical equipment with a bat. Another altercation began when a woman began throwing laundry detergent at people in the crowd.[10]

The riot spread from the Downtown area, into the Pearl District, where additional businesses were vandalized.[11] At 10:00 p.m., police told protesters who had not returned to Pioneer Courthouse Square that they would face arrest. Authorities also closed local stretches of Interstate 5 (I-5) and I-84 as a precaution, and warned motorists to watch for people in roadways.[9]

On November 11, the next day, protests continued. Police used flash bangs to disperse crowds until nearly midnight, including one group in front of City Hall. Police made several additional arrests throughout the day. Early the next morning, several people in a vehicle on the Morrison Bridge got into an argument with a protester. A man exited the vehicle, and shot the protester before escaping; the injured man's wounds were not considered life-threatening.[3] Police later arrested four men in relation to the shooting, and charged two of them with attempted murder. Police seized a TEC-9 semi-automatic pistol that was found in the suspects' vehicle.[12]

The protests remained ongoing into the night of November 12. Police arrested nineteen additional protesters who either refused to leave the area, or were suspected of other crimes. A reporter for local television station KOIN was assaulted.[4] In reaction to the ongoing disturbances, police closed Pioneer Courthouse Square and a two-block perimeter around the park, and warned that anyone who remained would face arrest.[4] Two other people were also assaulted, and a total of 62 people have been arrested as a result of the rioting and other disturbances.[5] On November 13, police updated the figure of total arrests to 113, with 71 arrested on November 12 alone.[6] Protesters reportedly threw lit road flares at police officers.[13]

Damage and aftermath
Demonstrators at Portland City Hall on November 11, 2016

Numerous businesses were damaged during the rioting. Windows of a Chase Bank, a Starbucks, and many other privately owned shops were smashed. Twelve vehicles at a Toyota dealership, across the Willamette River, had windows smashed out, and had roofs caved in. Anti-Trump graffiti was spray painted on buildings downtown.[8][9] By the fourth day of the riots, Portland police chief Mike Marshman estimated that damages exceeded $1 million.[14] In addition, the cost to the City of Portland exceeded $500,000 in police overtime alone. This cost does not include use of, or damage to, police ammunition, equipment or other property.[15] Police used postings on social media to track down vandals with numerous arrests made in the days following the riots.[16]

Boarded windows of a store after the riots, November 13, 2016

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced it would not be prosecuting some of the people arrested during the riots, although all 113 arrested were given a criminal citation for failing to obey a police officer, along with a class B traffic violation that carries a presumptive fine of $260. Detectives and prosecutors will continue to investigate and have three years to file felony charges.[17]

Reaction

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said that while he supports the right of citizens to peacefully protest, he condemned the violence and warned protesters to stay out of traffic.[9]

See also

References
  1. Ryan, Tim (10 November 2016). "Portland's anti-Trump protest turns violent, as rioters rampage in Pearl". The Oregonian. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  2. Sottile, Leah (November 11, 2016). "Anti-Trump protesters take to the streets in many cities for a third nigh". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2016. [Portland Police public information officer Pete] Simpson said anarchists ... infiltrated the peaceful demonstration.... Peaceful protesters tried to stop the more violent individuals, but 'they're not having any luck,' he said.
  3. "Man shot on Morrison Bridge during Portland anti-Trump protest". The Oregonian. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  4. "Saturday night Portland anti-Trump protest: 19 arrested in downtown demonstrations". The Oregonian. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  5. "Dozens more arrested on Day 5 of Portland protests". KOIN-TV. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  6. "71 arrested during Saturday night's Portland protests". KOIN-TV. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  7. Camila Domonoske (November 11, 2016). "Anti-Trump Protest in Portland, Ore., Turns Destructive, Declared a Riot". National Public Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2016. Later in the evening, what appeared to be a small subgroup of self-described anarchists began to damage cars at a Toyota dealership and ignite fireworks, before moving through the Pearl District and damaging several businesses.
  8. Hernandez, Tony (November 11, 2016). "Portland wakes up to damage from anti-Trump riot". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  9. "Portland police declare anti-Trump protest a riot". Los Angeles Times. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016 – via Associated Press.
  10. "Anti-Trump protest organizer decries vandalism in Portland riot". The Seattle Times. November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  11. "Portland protests disperse after confrontation with cops, 26 arrested". KATU. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  12. Matsumoto, Samantha (November 12, 2016). "Portland police identify two men arrested in connection to shooting at anti-Trump protest". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  13. "Anti-Trump protesters continue to sweep the nation". New York Post. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  14. "Portland businesses impacted by riot damage". KOIN-TV. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  15. Bernstein, Maxine (November 14, 2016). "Police response to Portland anti-Trump protests shifts based on 'tenor and tone' each night". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  16. "20-Year-Old Suspect Arrested for Riot and Vandalism (Photo)". Portland Police Bureau. November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  17. Weisberg, Brent (November 14, 2016). "Charges dismissed against Portland protesters". KOIN 6 News Staff. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
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