Dozens of people gathered outside the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in downtown Portland in the afternoon, initially entering the building and declining to go away.
“Officers arrived and found about 30 people refusing to leave, some smoking inside, some with pets. The situation escalated when people began damaging property, including a television and the front doors to the building,” the Portland Police Bureau announced in an incident report.
Officers ultimately ejected the group and located one suspect on the courthouse steps, arresting him. The man, identified as 22-year-old Darby Howard, opposed the arrest and punched an officer in the face, said the bureau.
Rebels returned as night fell. Video footage revealed them, again, breaking windows, ripping plywood from the exterior, starting fires, and sparring with law enforcement.
WATCH:ELON MUSK TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SELF DRIVING CARS
No local law enforcement officers were spotted. Federal officers used crowd-control munitions to force rebels away from the building. Clashes continued into Friday morning.
WATCH ALAN DERSHOWITZ: "THERE IS NO CRIME IN MANHATTAN"
Rebels were inspired to go to the building by a poster that called for action using language usually used by the far-left Antifa network. The poster drove people to wear black, adding a Black Lives Matter slogan: “No Justice! No Peace!”
Portland hosts one of the largest Antifa contingents. The members and Black Lives Matter activists participated in the targeting of the courthouse in the summer of 2020, which caused a federal response to protect the courthouse from being completely burned to the ground, according to former Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.
PUTIN'S LATEST POWER MOVE: RUSSIA DISPLAYS "WAR WINS" IN EYE-OPENING EXHIBITION
Rebels spray-painted “ACAB,” an anti-police acronym preferred by Antifa, and “BLM” on the side of the courthouse on Thursday. They further wrote: “You are trying to destroy us so we will destroy you” next to an Antifa symbol.
The riot occurred just after federal authorities lifted a protective fence that was placed around the courthouse because of the repeated attacks last year. Plywood protecting windows had likewise been removed, yet was put back up after the actions in the afternoon.
HOW DEMOCRATS' ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS ARE TURNING INTO THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE
The recent demonstrations and disorders in the city have been made up of “self-described anarchists,” Robert King, Mayor Ted Wheeler’s senior public safety adviser, told KOIN, adding: “The mayor will meet this week with the Acting US Attorney to talk more about this group and potential assistance from the US Attorney’s office and other federal entities to hold individuals involved in this conduct accountable.”
"BITCOIN JESUS" BUSTED: $48 MILLION TAX EVASION SCHEME UNRAVELS
The police bureau’s deputy chief, Chris Davis, stated that protesting is fine. “That’s not what we’re talking about,” he said. “With this group, this is a small group that is bent on destroying things. And what they want is a conflict. My advice is—don’t give them a conflict.”
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
