Portland police declare riot as marchers break windows on anniversary of George Floyd’s murder


Portland police declare riot as marchers break windows on anniversary of George Floyd’s murder

Portland police on Tuesday declared a riot amid a destructive downtown demonstration held on the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder.

About 200 people gathered Tuesday night outside the Multnomah County Justice Center. Some in the crowd lit fireworks and a dumpster fire, tagged the Justice Center with graffiti and broke windows at nearby Portland City Hall.

Some also threw water bottles and fireworks directly at police officers.

Police declared a riot about 10 p.m.

Marchers later smashed windows at locations including a jewelry and precious metals business, Starbucks shops, a credit union and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Police said they made an unspecified number of arrests.

A separate demonstration held earlier Tuesday featured a rally at Southeast Portland’s Revolution Hall, a march and a silent sit-in on the Burnside Bridge.

Tuesday marked the passing of a year since a Minneapolis police officer murdered Floyd, sparking an unprecedented push to address anti-Black racism across the country.

The killing, which was captured on video, touched off a wave of racial justice protests throughout the country and world, with Portland’s demonstrations spanning more than 100 consecutive nights.

— The Oregonian/OregonLive




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