Hundreds of far-left activists stormed a residential neighborhood in Portland, Oregon on Friday night, shining lights into people’s homes and screamed: “Out of your house, into the streets!”
Antifa get pushed down by police who refuse to disperse at the riot in north Portland tonight. For hours they’ve been starting fires and smashing cop cars. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/7mOvgIgkoG
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
The Daily Wire reported that Portland journalist Andy Ngo identified them as members of Antifa. The far-left activists wore black and carried shields, at least one of which could be seen with a hammer and sickle symbol on it.
Rioter gets hit by police, then is helped by the SWAT medic after moaning on the ground. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/WXXQlTmoPy
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
“Out of your house, into the streets!” the activists screamed as they marched through the residential neighborhood. They continued repeating this mantra throughout the area.
This is the moment Portland Police finally moved in to clear black bloc rioters from the north precinct. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/8BDc3Lnc1K
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
The Portland Police Department released the following statement highlighting last night’s violence from the far-left activists:
“Officers placed unoccupied police vehicles parked on Northeast Emerson Street on the southwest side of the precinct and yellow police line tape across the road. That was done with the intention of keeping the crowd away from the building. In past protests there have been attempts to commit arson and burn the occupied building. A police loudspeaker provided warnings to the crowd not to enter city property and on the closed area of Northeast Emerson Street.”
Watch: Portland Police charge in and break up antifa’s shield line. Meanwhile, a fire burns in the background. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/QpLK24Jl9i
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
“Almost immediately the officers were targeted by thrown bottles, eggs, and green lasers toward their eyes. The lasers are powerful enough that they’re capable of causing serious, permanent eye damage. The police sound truck issued further warnings, notifying the crowd that officers have observed people in the area of North Precinct throwing projectiles and pointing lasers at officers.”
“Despite warnings, individuals in the crowd continued throwing things. Officers tried to retreat out of sight to attempt to deescalate. Over the next three hours, individuals in the crowd pelted the police vehicles with softball-sized rocks, glass bottles, golf balls, ball bearings, metal railroad spikes, and plastic eggs filled with paint. There were also balloons filled with feces thrown on the cars and even a torn up street sign was used to vandalize the marked police cars. Windows were broken and tires were deflated.”
Antifa use shields to assault police at the riot in north Portland. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/ZiDFSV2y5l
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
“However, because the risk did not involve life safety, and in an attempt to deescalate and avoid the need to use of force, officers remained far back (photo). Eventually some individuals encroached past the closure area. Targeted, selective arrests were made. Some limited crowd control munitions were deployed, including inert smoke canisters. After the arrests and munitions were deployed, the officers again retreated attempting to deescalate.”
“Officers in the sound truck used their loudspeaker to warn the group to back off the city property, keep the demonstration peaceful, and the ask crowd to police itself. However, individuals within the group continued to increase their attacks in an attempt to goad the officers into responding. Individuals were seen using lacrosse sticks to launch rocks a greater distance. At least two officers were struck with rocks despite their safety buffer. A ball bearing struck the loudspeaker truck almost a full block away. A van parked in front of the neighboring Boys and Girls Club had a window broken by what is believed to be a golf ball (photos).”
Portland Police giving antifa rioters plenty of warning to leave area but they refuse. Antifa also smashed out the windows of the Boys & Girls Club van parked in the area. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/UKblX0XStR
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
“Numerous people with “press” markings encroached on the closed area. One person with “press” written on their garments deflated another police vehicle tire (photo). The sound truck made an announcement that Portland Police appreciates them being here to observe and report. They were told that that if they were there as press or a legal observer, they must also move off Northeast Emerson Street and the sidewalks to the north and south of Northeast Emerson Street. Failure to comply with this order may subject them to arrest, citation, and/or use of force, including, but not limited to, crowd control agents and impact weapons. …”
Portland Police fire off smoke canisters to obscure vision of antifa rioters in north Portland. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/IRuleT0PTY
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2020
“Finally, at 1:07a.m., due to the persistent and ongoing criminal acts, the PPB sound truck issued a warning that the event was being declared an unlawful assembly and that all community members in the area should leave to the south. Officers moved up to physically move the crowd. Almost immediately the officers were pelted with objects including rocks. At 1:10a.m., a riot was declared. More warnings were given. Officers moved the crowd to the south. One vehicle tried to run over some officers, but was unsuccessful in injuring them. An officer was injured when she was struck by a rock that had been thrown. Green lasers targeted the PPB Air Unit.”