Police in Portland declared a “riot” Monday night as protests flared up outside Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s residence at a condominium complex in the downtown area, complete with fireworks and other loud, disruptive activities.
The Oregonian reported at least 200 demonstrators “marched to the Pearl District condominium tower where Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler lives to demand his resignation.”
The local newspaper said, “demonstration quickly turned destructive as some in the crowd lit a fire in the street, then placed a picnic table from a nearby business on top of the fire to feed the blaze. People shattered windows and broke into a ground-floor dental office, including a chair, and added to the fire and office supplies.”
Allison Mechanic, a reporter for KATU News, posted a series of videos on Twitter showing police tackling demonstrators and other scenes of generalized chaos.
Hundreds arrive at Mayor Ted Wheeler’s home in the Pearl. pic.twitter.com/xjoIvOwvWI
— Allison Mechanic (@AlliMechanic_TV) September 1, 2020
A picnic table was put on top of the fire. It’s really growing now. pic.twitter.com/zWLyH69UC4
— Allison Mechanic (@AlliMechanic_TV) September 1, 2020
Fires broke out as Antifa members attempted to burn down the mayor’s apartment building.
Antifa is currently trying to burn down Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s apartment building. pic.twitter.com/aDAOtA8ovu
— Tara LaRosa (@TaraLaRosa) September 1, 2020
A bonfire is burning on the intersection. The crowd is chanting “F*ck Ted Wheeler!”. #PortlandProrests #PDXprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/nMqPlc3d4v
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) September 1, 2020
Earlier in the night in Portland, antifa rioters calmly smashed up a random business to protest police & @tedwheeler. They stole furniture from inside to use as tinder for their fire. They then set the office’s lobby on fire. #PortlandsRiots pic.twitter.com/b7rNvAEqNn
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 1, 2020
“This was the arson fire that prompted a riot declaration tonight,” the Portland Police said on Twitter while quoting a video from The New York Times reporter. “It was critical to secure the area to allow firefighters to respond to this dangerous situation.”
This was the arson fire that prompted a riot declaration tonight. It was critical to secure the area to allow firefighters to respond to this dangerous situation. https://t.co/k33vcLD4BY
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 1, 2020
Wheeler has been targeted by several civil rights groups demanding his resignation. The mayor has come out in the last couple of days and said he has no plans to do so, placing blame on the Trump administration for the violence.
Trump has deployed federal forces to the imploding Democratically-controlled city. The president has criticized leaders of these cities and towns, such as ones in Portland, Chicago, and New York City, as unrest continues into late summer and violent crime surges.
Trump has surged in the polls following the Republican National Convention, while enthusiasm for Joe Biden and Democrats slips.
Trump has made it a focal point of his presidential campaign, ahead of the Nov. 3 elections, to bash Democrats for inciting violence across major metro areas. This has given the president a boost in the polls.
