The Portland court turns into a fortress after the riots escalate again

Non-scalable fences were reinstalled at Mark O’Hatfield’s court in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday after protesters vandalized the building over the weekend, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to FOX News.

Oregon Live reporter Maxine Bernstein shared photos of city officials setting up the fence on Twitter.

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Portland has been the scene of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between police and protesters, since the assassination of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis in May. During the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 consecutive days.

The fence was installed in June to help ease tensions between city police and protesters after Floyd’s death, according to FOX 12 Oregon, but it is said to have become a point of contention.

Police said at the time that they recognized that the fence had become a “symbol of division” between the department and the community and that it would remove the fence to show “our willingness for peaceful dialogue and communication to begin to heal our community.”

“We are open and listening to discussions about how the community anticipates the police to serve them in the future,” the department said in a series of tweets. “Our hope is that the night violence and destruction around the justice center will stop and the focus can be directed towards peaceful conversation.”

Local and federal officials held talks for several months to determine the best time to bring the fence down. The Department of Homeland Security told FOX 12 on Friday that the decision to remove the fence on Wednesday was “made in collaboration with local Portland leaders as part of a broader effort to help the city return to normal. “.

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However, just a day after the fence was removed, protesters marched through the streets of Portland, causing fires and smashing windows.

Earlier on Thursday, a crowd gathered to protest plans to replace and expand a pipeline that runs between Superior, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Alberta, reported journalist Suzette Smith on Twitter.

Some protesters also cited the start of the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota as a reason for the unrest, Smith wrote. Chauvin is the former Minneapolis police officer who faces murder charges in Floyd’s death in police custody on May 25.

Federal police deployed impact ammunition, tear gas, explosive grenades and smoke bombs after protesters threw objects into the courtroom, lit a fire with plywood removed from the building, and smashed glass near the entrance, according to Fox 12 Camila Orti.

Thursday’s violence in Portland was expected, with some business owners closing their deals earlier in the day, OregonLive.com reported.

Whether someone was arrested or injured, it was not clear.

SLIDESHOW: PORTLAND POLICE, PROTESTERS INVOLVED IN STANDOFF NEAR THE FEDERAL COURT

The violence continued until Friday, with police detaining a group of about 100 people in a march that resulted in the destruction of properties in Portland’s Pearl district. At about 9 pm on Friday, the group began marching on the street blocking vehicle traffic, from Jamison Park, 810 Northwest 11th Avenue.

The police warned the protesters through a loudspeaker that the street was open to vehicle traffic, but the crowd continued to march on the street.

At around 9:15 pm on Northwest 15th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street, some in the crowd started breaking windows and police officers moved to address criminal behavior, creating a perimeter around the group on Northwest Marshall Street between Northwest 13th Avenue and Northwest 14th Avenue.

The police warned the group that they were being detained for investigating crimes, were not free to leave and that they should comply with the officers’ legal orders, or face imprisonment or the use of force against them, including, but not limited to, control of crowd agents, impact weapons or tear gas. In addition, the authorities invited legal observers, the press and anyone who was clinically fragile or anyone who needed immediate medical attention to leave the area closed, if they wished.

The detained individuals were identified and photographed as part of the investigation before being released. Some refused to obey and crossed their arms in an effort to interfere with the investigation. The police escorted them and they were arrested, including one who was accused of vandalism in the previous window.

Police officers discovered several items left behind by people inside the perimeter, including a crowbar, hammers, bear spray, rocket gun, high-impact slingshot and knives

As the event unfolded, groups formed outside and police with physical disabilities. Some threw stones and cans full of beer at the police. The policemen implanted some OC spray (pepper) and impact ammunition.

Thirteen people are facing charges with the protest, including disorderly conduct, illegal possession of a firearm, resistance to arrest and interference with the police, among other crimes.

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After Friday’s violence, the Department of Homeland Security told FOX 12 that its Federal Protection Services unit “would continue to fulfill its mandate to ensure the safety of federal employees and facilities, while maintaining our commitment to work with the city of Portland and the community as part of a collective effort to restore the downtown area. “

Dom Calicchio of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.