No party in Portland: Violent end to 2020 as riot is declared in the city with protesters smashing windows and throwing Molotov cocktails at cops
A riot was declared in Portland at around 11 p.m. on New Years Eve as protesters smashed windows and threw firebombs at cops who shared pictures of smashed Molotov-style cocktails on the street.
A group, estimated to be of around 100 people, started gathering at 9 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland, according to local news reports.
Crews from Fox 12 said they witnessed fireworks being shot at the building, with police later confirming this.
'A gathering in downtown Portland has devolved into a riot,' Portland Police tweeted at 11:37 p.m. local time.
'Participants have thrown multiple firebombs at officers and launched commercial grade fireworks at the Federal Courthouse and Justice Center.'
Footage from the scene showed police moving in to break up the gathering as fireworks were thrown in their direction.
Federal police face protesters shortly after a riot was declared near the Justice Center on New Year's Eve in downtown Portland, Oregon on December 31, 2020
A protester gestures near a trash dumpster fire shortly before a riot was declared after a march to the federal Justice Center on New Year's Eve in downtown Portland
Security guards inspect a looted Starbucks coffee shop in Portland after a riot was declared by police on Thursday night
A protester gestures towards a line of police shortly after a riot was declared near the federal Justice Center on New Year's Eve in downtown Portland. Behind her, protesters hold umbrellas - similar to scenes in Hong Kong pro-democracy protests
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In a statement released in the early hours of January 1, the police said they became aware of a gathering at around 7:45 p.m., saying that the crowd soon became violent.
'At least two Molotov cocktail-style firebombs were thrown, and large, commercial grade aerial fireworks were launched at the Federal Courthouse and the Justice Center,' the statement said.
'Some individuals tried to use tools to break into the Justice Center at 1120 Southwest 3rd Avenue, but were not successful,' it continued, before adding that officers had to be pulled from answering other emergency calls to respond to the protesters.
2021, Portland is still at it.#PortlandProtests #PortlandRiots #Portland pic.twitter.com/4MOoabvIdn
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 1, 2021
2021, Portland is still at it.#PortlandProtests #PortlandRiots #Portland pic.twitter.com/4MOoabvIdn
In a statement released in the early hours of January 1, the police said they became aware of a gathering at around 7:45 p.m., saying that the crowd soon became violent. Pictured: Fireworks land on federal police facing protesters
Pictured: A still image from a CBS6 news report showing a large group of people gathering outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland
There were reports of a Starbucks window being smashed, as well as a crosswalk sign being set on fire - one of a number of fires spotted in the area
Pictured: Protesters clash with police officers during a protest against police brutality near the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon. The gathering was reportedly organise on social media, with 100 people arriving on Thursday night
'Officers were attacked with large rocks, full size bricks, and frozen water bottles. Some officers were targeted by paint balloons that may have been laced with a caustic substance as it caused burning to the skin,' the statement from the police claimed.
'Some law enforcement officers suffered injuries, although no Portland Police officers were hurt.'
Authorities previously announced that people could face 'riot control agents' if they did not leave the area, before police advanced on the group at around 11:15 p.m.
The protesters responded by shooting fireworks at them, according to KOIN.
Pictured: Two protesters hold each other amid a cloud of smoke during clashes with police officers in Portland
A banner hangs on the fence near the Federal Courthouse. It reads 'Land back', while graffiti has been painted on the bases
Damaged buildings included Portland City Hall, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Historical Society and TriMet, KOIN reported
'If you do not leave you are subject to arrest, citation, and/or the use of force, including but not limited to impact weapons and tear gas,' the police tweeted.
Meanwhile, DHS officers also faced off against a group on South-West Main street, where pepper spray or mace was seen being used by officers while the sound of non-lethal ammunition could be heard, the network said.
There were reports of a Starbucks window being smashed, as well as a crosswalk sign being set on fire - one of a number of fires spotted in the area. Police also said piles of debris were formed in the road.
Police first declared the gathering an unlawful assembly at around 10:30 p.m. before declaring it a riot soon after.
Protesters clash with police officers during a protest against police brutality near the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon
A Sheriff's deputy stands in a cloud of yellow smoke as police chase protesters after a riot was declared on New Years Eve
A police officer uses tear gas against protesters as people gather to protest against police brutality. Police first declared the gathering an unlawful assembly at around 10:30 p.m. before declaring it a riot soon after
A statement from the police said that the crowd had mostly dispersed by 2 a.m., with the police claiming that 'no CS gas was deployed by PPB during this event, but inert smoke and some impact munitions were used'. Pictured: Federal police face protesters in Portland on New Years Ever
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The declaration came just one hour before Portland and the rest of the West Coast rung in the New Year.
In a later update, Portland Police wrote on Twitter: 'Much of the crowd has broken up into smaller groups and spread out downtown. A large amount of burned debris will continue to block Southwest Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.'
The statement said that the crowd had mostly dispersed by 2 a.m., with the police claiming that 'no CS gas was deployed by PPB during this event, but inert smoke and some impact munitions were used', contrary to local news reports.
PPB: A gathering in downtown Portland has devolved into a riot. Participants have thrown multiple firebombs at officers & launched commercial grade fireworks at the Federal Courthouse & Justice Center. #koin6news #pdx #pnw #Oregon #Portland #riot #NYE2020 pic.twitter.com/HULmXCZ7UH
— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) January 1, 2021
PPB: A gathering in downtown Portland has devolved into a riot. Participants have thrown multiple firebombs at officers & launched commercial grade fireworks at the Federal Courthouse & Justice Center. #koin6news #pdx #pnw #Oregon #Portland #riot #NYE2020 pic.twitter.com/HULmXCZ7UH
Authorities previously announced that people could face 'riot control agents' if they did not leave the area, before police advanced on the group at around 11:15 p.m.
Pictured: A still from a local news report showing smashed glass during a New Years Even protest in Portland on Thursday
According to Fox 6, as of 11 p.m. there had been no confirmation of any damage or of a motive behind the protests, although a flyer from the gathering said 'In Solidarity with BLM' and 'No Streamers, No Megaphones, No Masters.'
The demonstration was organised and advertised through posts made online, and came one day after nearly a dozen businesses were vandalised in the city over the previous night, according to Portland police.
Damaged buildings included Portland City Hall, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Historical Society and TriMet, KOIN reported.
Police said that no arrests had been made, but an investigation was on-going.
A broken window and graffiti is seen on a looted Starbucks coffee shop in Portland after it was trashed in Thursday's riot
A trash dumpster burns shortly before a riot was declared after a march to the federal Justice Center on New Year's Eve in downtown Portland, Oregon on New Years Eve
Protesters clash with police officers during a protest against police brutality near the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, on December 31, 2020
The demonstration was organised and advertised through posts made online, and came one day after nearly a dozen businesses were vandalised in the city over the previous night, according to Portland police. Pictured: A police line faces down the protesters in Portland, Oregon
Authorities previously announced that people could face 'riot control agents' if they did not leave the area, before police advanced on the group at around 11:15 p.m. Pictured: A firework explodes behind a police line on Thursday night
Portland was rocked in 2021 with protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd on May 25 - a black man who died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer - that galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement.
In July, the Trump administration ordered national guard to to quell violence in the city, leading to violent clashes where tear gas was deployed and dozens of protesters were arrested.
Trump used the violence in Portland as a rallying cry to his base and to drum up support for his failed re-election bid in November where he lost out to now-President-elect Joe Biden, framing himself as a "law and order" leader amid nationwide unrest. The federal agents began withdrawing from the city in July.