Saturday night in Portland was the sight of many Antifa members rioting in a residential area, resulting in someone from the crowd throwing a Molotov cocktail, lighting a fire in the street and setting another protester on fire. Video footage captured the protester running across the street, kicking their feet, and falling to the ground as other protesters rushed over to help put out the flames. The fire was finally extinguished when police rushed to his aid and an officer put the fire out.
Portland journalist Andy Ngo posted a video, tweeting: “Graphic: #Antifa rioters throw a Molotov cocktail in direction of police in SE Portland. It lands next to people, setting one on fire. Video by @TaylerUSA. #PortlandRiots”
Graphic: #Antifa rioters throw a Molotov cocktail in direction of police in SE Portland. It lands next to people, setting one on fire. Video by @TaylerUSA. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/NJfEURKfkC
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 6, 2020
Ngo tweeted out another video: “Graphic: Another angle of the person being set on fire by a Molotov cocktail thrown by antifa militants in SE Portland. Rioters try to help but don’t do much. Cops are the ones who rush in & put out the flames. Video by @BGOnTheScene. #PortlandRiots”
Graphic: Another angle of the person being set on fire by a Molotov cocktail thrown by antifa militants in SE Portland. Rioters try to help but don’t do much. Cops are the ones who rush in & put out the flames. Video by @BGOnTheScene. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/9gNFo73Lyc
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 6, 2020
KATU reported that “the crowd of protesters gathered in Ventura Park at around 7 p.m. with plans to march down to the Portland Police east precinct. Authorities announced at around 9 p.m. that people who were planning to march to the east precinct building were not staying to the sidewalks and that the march was unpermitted.”
The Daily Wire reported that just after 9 p.m., the Portland police tweeted out a notice that the march was unpermitted, noting that “Portland Police are making loudspeaker announcements reminding people marching near Ventura Park to remain on sidewalks and obey all laws. The march is unpermitted. Portland Police encourage lawful demonstrations.”
It was around 9:20 p.m. that the Portland police declared the situation a riot, tweeting: “Portland Police note that persons on Southeast Stark are engaging in tumultuous and violent conduct thereby intentionally or recklessly creating a grave risk of causing public alarm. This is a riot. Police are giving announcements to disperse. People are throwing Molotov cocktails.”
Portland Police note that persons on Southeast Stark are engaging in tumultuous and violent conduct thereby intentionally or recklessly creating a grave risk of causing public alarm This is a riot. Police are giving announcements to disperse People are throwing Molotov cocktails.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 6, 2020
The Portland Police quickly added that they were “making repeated loudspeaker announcements ordering people to disperse and stop committing crimes or risk use of force the use of crowd control munitions including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons and the possibility of arrest.”
Portland Police are making repeated loudspeaker announcements ordering people to disperse and stop committing crimes or risk use of force the use of crowd control munitions including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons and the possibility of arrest
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 6, 2020
The New York Times noted on Saturday that “Barely a half-hour from the Portland streets where racial justice protesters on Saturday were marking 100 consecutive days of tempestuous, sometimes violent, demonstrations, there are plenty of communities where people dismiss the protesters as lawless hooligans.”
A gun shop owner in Sandy, Oregon, about 30 miles southeast of Portland, shared with the Times that he has sold 4.5 million rounds of ammunition since March, and that demand soared after the protests in Portland became violent. He stated: “There’s panic buying every once in a while but nowhere near like this. There’s such a massive rush, people are taking anything they can get.”
The Times noted that the owner, “who has sold thousands of guns this year, estimates that 70 percent of customers in recent months are first-time gun buyers.”
KATU stated: “Earlier Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in a park just north of Portland in Vancouver, Washington, for a memorial service for Aaron ‘Jay’ Danielson, a supporter of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer, who was killed Aug. 29. The suspect was himself shot and killed by police Thursday. Families showed up at the event with their kids, lining up for the free BBQ and picnicking on the grass at Esther Short Park. As various speakers addressed the audience on stage, attendees waved their flags enthusiastically, occasionally breaking out into chants of ‘U-S-A!’”