Portland police declare riot as demonstrators attack fence outside federal courthouse

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

PORTLAND, Oregon — Snot streaming down his face and tears dripping from his swollen-shut eyes, John Beck tried to shake off the pepper spray and compose his thoughts.

"Tell people what is happening here," he said. "I want them to know."

Federal agents pepper-sprayed Beck, 46, and hundreds of others during a raucous protest Saturday night outside the federal courthouse in Portland, which has seen 58 straight days of protests sparked by the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

After federal agents briefly retreated Saturday night into the courthouse, some protesters began rattling a fence encircling the federal building. Shortly after 1 a.m., protesters tore down a section but didn't cross onto courthouse property. Federal agents eventually reemerged and pushed protesters several blocks away from the courthouse, firing tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after Portland police declared the gathering a riot.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/portland-police-declare-riot-demonstrators-094638305.html

[rockfordfile]

1. Why?

Why are they at the Federal courthouse?

[Bradshaw3]

3. Good question

What is the point of it at this stage. Yes drumpf is trying to create a situation where he can be a dictator but how does this fight against that?

[RussBLib]

7. so the federal buildings

are a symbol of justice, according to the DHS head thug.

To many others, they are also symbols of systemic racism, and isn't that why they keep at the federal buildings?

[Bradshaw3]

15. Is it?

Maybe but I'm not sure that is the case. Probably different motives, some good and some not so good. The ultimate question is what are they accomplishing.

[wnylib]

2. NPR news is reporting this as

a breach of the fence by protesters.

[cayugafalls]

4. We're playing into their hands by protesting at the federal buildings.

Move a block away and trumps balloon deflates and he loses his optics.

Just my opinion.

[Thekaspervote]

5. Agree!! Let them have their fucking fence.

Declaring a riot it just one step away from martial law

[Blecht]

6. 4000+ people take up a lot of space

And it isn't "the protesters" who are fucking with the fence. It's a combination of agents provocateur and dumbshits -- really just a handful.

The Justice Center is the main focus of the protests -- Black Live Matter is why we're out there -- it just happens to be next to the Hatfield federal building.

Maybe we should move to a "free-speech zone"?

Fuck that.

[cayugafalls]

9. I know it is not the protesters who are causing the trouble.

It was just an opinion not a command. I never meant to move to a "free speech zone" either. Not being there, I did not realize they were so close to each other. My apologies.

I do have a question though, why protest into the night when all the people at the Justice Center would have gone home? Why not protest until a certain time and then shut it down and return the next day? If you force them to come at you in daylight then I think that will expose their fascism even more.

I understand the concept of getting into good trouble and protesting, but keeping at it way into the night and pressing on when all that remains are the thugs itching for a fight seems like it is counter to the cause.

I am truly asking this in good faith and not trying to diminish the good work being done.

Like I said, I apologize if I offended you, I am just trying to understand as much as I can.

[Blecht]

10. There is no central leadership

And I don't feel like I have any right to tell other peaceful protesters how to do things.

I think one of the reasons the protests are at night is because it can get pretty damn hot here during the day -- right now it is 103°F. Having a protest now would probably kill more than a few of people.

I'm not offended -- my anger is not directed at you, either. I apologize if you felt that I was attacking you.



I'm just really pissed off at everything right now.

[cayugafalls]

12. OK, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

I guess I did not even think about heat of day or decentralized self spawning protests.

I did not take it personally, just wanted to apologize if I hurt you. Thanks again for explaining to me so well.

Stay safe out there.

[triron]

13. Thanks for your clarification.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Agree, this is really stupid

Move a couple of blocks away and don't feed Fox and co.

Without being there it's difficult to understand the situational dynamic. But last night my Republican aunt couldn't stop talking about the awful protesters in Portland. She only watches the local Fox affiliate so that's what they are feeding her.

[Happy Hoosier]

11. They need to remain entirely peaceful NT

[triron]

14. Maybe in an ideal world. But then there wouldn't even have to be protests.