Protesters vandalized several buildings in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Saturday night in one of the biggest protests in weeks, according to reports.
About 150 people marched through the Pearl district of Portland in what is called a “direct action” event, breaking windows at companies like Starbucks, Chipotle, Umpqua Bank and Urban Pantry and marking them with graffiti, KION-TV reported in Portland.
A vandal wrote “banks suck” on the front of Umpqua Bank, a Portland Tribune reporter tweeted.
Protesters protested the Biden government’s immigration policy and the federal agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
RIOTERS TRY TO TAKE DOWN THE PORT OF THE PORTLAND POLICE ASSOCIATION
The White House suffered a progressive setback this month when it reopened a shelter in Texas designed to house unaccompanied migrant teenagers. Amid adverse reaction, the government said the shelter “will not be open for long”.
Before Saturday’s bustle, several Portland business owners closed their stores in anticipation of the planned protest, FOX 12 in Portland reported.
“We removed everything that could cause damage tonight,” Jim Rice, owner of Fields Bar and Grill, told the station. The restaurant was already damaged on Friday. It was not clear whether he suffered further damage on Saturday.
“When these people arrive, we lose an entire day of business, which means that it is affecting the salaries of my team members. This has been going on for nine months, ”he continued. “Where are our resources? When will we have enough resources to finally go after and fix this?”
Protesters broke the window of a restaurant in downtown Portland during a night of destruction on Saturday.
(Portland Police)
Slogans laden with profanity and messages like “No children in cages” were spray-painted throughout the local ICE office.
The windows were also broken in a supermarket, restaurant, consignment store and several cafes, police said.
PORTLAND MOTIMAS CAUSED AT LEAST $ 2.3 million IN DAMAGE TO FEDERAL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, SAYS THE US STATE ATTORNEY
Portland police began arrests at about 10 pm Eastern time and warned protesters that if they did not disperse, they could be subjected to tear gas and impact ammunition, KGW-TV in Portland reported.
The police noted in a press release that, although tear gas was restricted, it could be used after an ignored warning.
Police officers were also limited in their ability to respond to incidents because of multiple shootings across the city, the statement said.
Police officers made two arrests: a 31-year-old was arrested for first-degree criminal wickedness and a 17-year-old was arrested for interfering with a peace officer and escaping in the third degree.
The department said it could arrest more protesters.
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Portland faced months of anti-police protests and riots that were ignited by George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis last May.