PORTLAND — Police ordered late-night demonstrators to leave downtown Portland Wednesday, hours after the roving crowd had gathered to denounce the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of President Trump supporters.
The dispersal orders came after some people in the group smashed the windows of at least three downtown businesses, according to police and multiple news outlets.
Portland’s “stop the fascist coup” protest unfolded about 12 hours after rioters forced their way into the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., delaying proceedings to confirm Trump’s loss in the presidential election. Two other related protests occurred earlier Wednesday in Oregon: a pro-Trump event that culminated in clashes with counter-protesters in Salem, and a small anti-Trump rally on the steps of Portland City Hall.
The Congressional hearings to certify Joe Biden’s victory eventually resumed after federal officers cleared rioters from the building. The proceedings were underway as the late-night protest played out in Portland.
Protesters converged at Chapman Square, one block from a federal courthouse that was the site of frequent protests for racial justice between May and September. Trump dispatched federal officers in June to protect it. Federal forces frequently used tear gas, rubber bullets and other types of force to keep nightly protesters away.
An event flier for Wednesday’s protest included the tagline “spread fire” and described the gathering as a “direct action” event, a label that often precedes acts of property damage such as smashing windows and spray painting buildings.
Hours before the event started, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office warned people on Twitter not to carry out crimes.
“We will not tolerate criminal activity that jeopardizes or threatens the safety of deputies, officers, adults in custody, employees and community members,” the agency said in a tweet.
When the roving crowd arrived at the newly built county courthouse on First Avenue around 9:45 p.m., Portland police used a loudspeaker to order people to leave. Police said officers saw some people in the crowd trying to break in to the building and damage the fence surrounding it.
The crowd left the building and roamed throughout downtown. At least one person in the group smashed the windows of a Starbucks, a Target and a credit union, KOIN News reported.
Portland police declared the gathering unlawful and ordered people to leave. Police so far have not said how many people, if any, were arrested in connection with the smashed windows.
It was the third time in recent days that a faction of demonstrators targeted and damaged downtown businesses.
More than a dozen businesses and buildings were damaged over two successive nights heading into the New Year as vandals clashed with police in downtown Portland. The worst of the damage came on New Year’s Eve as people shattered numerous storefront windows and burglarized several businesses, prompting police to declare a riot.
The damage on those nights prompted Mayor Ted Wheeler to say he is exploring new ways for police to respond to protests aimed at property damage.
