Associated Press — An anti-Trump protest turned riot in downtown Portland escalated late Thursday and culminated with officers firing rubber baton rounds and arresting at least 26 people who refused to disperse after some protesters smashed windows, spray-painted buildings and lit a dumpster fire.
Portland Police originally said on Twitter that at least 29 people were arrested, but soon after changed the number to 26. Police said they would have a complete update on arrests, charges and photos related to the hours-long incident which started peacefully Thursday with thousands of people.
Portland Police declared the protest of about 4,000 people to be a riot after “extensive criminal and dangerous behavior.” By late Thursday police were calling it an unlawful assembly as repeated orders to disperse were ignored.
Police said officers used “less lethal munitions” in order to make arrests and move the crowd. By 11 p.m. police estimated the marchers at about 1,500 and by midnight crowds were thinning and splintering off.
Multiple media outlets on the scene livestreamed early Friday as rioters threw glass bottles and a trash can toward officers while yelling at them. The livestreams then showed officers firing rubber baton rounds and dispensing pepper spray at the group. Police tweeted that officers “deployed less lethal munitions such as OC spray and vapor (pepper spray), rubber ball distraction devices, rubber baton rounds.”
Officers took several protesters to the ground and arrested them, according to livestream video. Police had advised on Twitter that if arrested, people could face a felony riot charge.
What started as a peaceful demonstration took a forceful turn when some protesters caused significant damage to vehicles at a car dealership, police said. News video showed some protesters also used rocks and baseball bats to smash the windows of businesses and start small fires as they moved through the city’s Pearl District, a showcase neighborhood and site of many boutiques and art galleries.
Another video showed an altercation after a woman threw laundry detergent at protesters.
At 10 p.m. Thursday, police told protesters who had not returned to Pioneer Courthouse Square that they were under arrest. Police had previously told people who wanted to continue peacefully demonstrating to head back to the square. Media outlets showed at least one woman who appeared handcuffed walking away with officers while other protesters appeared to scatter.
A crowd soon after continued marching through the streets.
Oregon Department of Transportation officials closed portions of Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 in the area intermittently as a precaution. Officials urged travelers to watch for people in unexpected places on roads.
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said earlier in the day he supports the peaceful protest of people exercising their Constitutional rights, but cautioned that walking on to freeways and blocking light rail lines is dangerous for everyone involved.
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