PORTLAND, OR – At the risk of sounding redundant, a riot was declared in Portland on the evening of August 24th.
After 10:00 p.m. Monday night, rioters marched from Arbor Lodge Park to the Portland Police Association headquarters and began spray-painting and causing damage to the building.
Police arrived quickly and declared a riot as the smoke from a fire set began rising in the front of the building. A second fire had also been set to the rear of the building.
Video posted of the arson fire set at the @PPAVigil offices tonight. This building is in a residential neighborhood. https://t.co/FoJ6oGcOpl
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 25, 2020
Both were extinguished before they were able to cause further damage.
Arrests were made and tear gas was deployed to disburse the unlawful gathering.
During the march, rioters chanted the name of Jacob Blake, the man who was shot by police in Wisconsin Sunday. As in many other frivolous riots in Portland, the case involving Jacob Blake happened nearly 2,000 miles away from Portland and have zero to do with Portland Police.
Furthermore, Portlanders are seemingly up-in-arms over a suspect shot by police that has a history pulling guns out on people, committing sexual assault, domestic violence – and assaulting police officers.
Ya boy Jacob Blake!! Domestic abuser and sex offender!! Known for pulling guns on people and living a life of crime.
This is who yall crying about!! Ok… pic.twitter.com/ddygEEEpsD
— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) August 24, 2020
Terrorists in Portland bragged about assaulting police officers, as seen in this tweet:
In Portland a protestor was successfully de-arrested while a cop got pepper sprayed. It may be beautiful, but please don’t post video 🖤🔥
— PNW Youth Liberation Front (@PNWYLF) August 25, 2020
Commotion took over the streets again as people disbursed the area. A reporter on scene said that she saw a body loaded into an ambulance from the ground.
She was unable to tell if it was an officer or rioter and so far there has been no update as to that information.
A look at the people in front of the PPA. Cars are blocking N Lombard. pic.twitter.com/LiQeG0bvYz
— Allison Mechanic (@AlliMechanic_TV) August 25, 2020
Even the media couldn’t hold in their bias during this riot and were actively harassing the police.
Members of the press are harassing police officers in Portland. These people are not on your side. pic.twitter.com/M7xnIetqVO
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020
The rioters chanted:
“What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. If we don’t get it, burn it down.”
Antifa in Portland: “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. If we don’t get it, burn it down.”
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020
The chaos that ensued on the evening of the 24th marked the 89th night of some form of protesting or riot within Portland. Aside from the reported cases of arson and general vandalism against the police union building, the total damage done from the evening is not yet clear.
Meanwhile, businesses have started to leave Portland due to the increased and unwavering lawlessness in the city.
The businesses leaving aren’t just your local mom ‘n pop joints either – these are bonafide businesses like Google, Microsoft, Banana Republic, AirB&B, Saucebox and Daimler Chrysler.
Developer: Businesses leaving downtown Portland over riots https://t.co/k4FQeSRGoR pic.twitter.com/I4aKL67hhi
— KOIN News (@KOINNews) August 24, 2020
Greg Goodman, the co-president of the Downtown Development Group, wrote a letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler explaining what the unchecked riots is doing to Portland economically.
According to Goodman, this madness is creating an exodus the likes of which he’s never seen:
“The number is like nothing I have seen in 42 years of doing business in downtown.”
Why would a new crowd of businesses show up? Who would wanna set up shop in Portland when the potential to loosing their shop to the next mass riot is a risk? It’s already hard enough being a small business owners as is so why go to a place that has more risk?
— Joe B 🇺🇸 (@burritobritoboy) August 25, 2020
Of course, who could blame any business wanting to leave Portland?
It doesn’t even take a incident within the city of Portland for people to begin rioting and destroying businesses and attacking police officers that have zero to do with the source of the mob’s ire.
Goodman further stated that you could contact just about anyone that deals in commercial property in Portland and they’ll tell you that people want out of the city when it pertains to their business:
“The list goes on and on. If you know a retail or office broker, give them a call and ask them how many clients they have are trying to leave.”
While the letter penned to Mayor Wheeler didn’t specifically say that Black Lives Matter was to blame for the exodus of businesses, Goodman did write that is “does have most everything to do with the lawlessness you are endorsing downtown.”
Linneas Boland-Godbey, a local who happens to be a protester, is one who also decries the destruction happening in the city by the hands of the rioters present night after night:
“I understand and I see the frustration because I’m just like, it’s like, burning a mattress for me or a dumpster, doesn’t necessarily help my community. And that’s why I’m out here being, like, can we do a different form of protest besides burning down something?”
Goodman’s letter to the mayor claimed that he was neglecting his duties to keep the city in order:
“You aren’t sweeping the streets, needles are all over the place, garbage cans are broken and left open, glass from car windows that have been broken out is all over the streets, parks are strewn with litter (their fountains turned off) weeds are taller than the plants in the planter boxes, graffiti is on sculptures, etc.”
“You are willfully neglecting your duties as elected officials to keep our city safe and clean.”
And yet, the only thing Mayor Wheeler can address is…The Proud Boys?
“I vehemently oppose what the Proud Boys and those associated with them stand for, and I will not tolerate hate speech and the damage it does in our city.”
While some may not agree with the group’s political stance – the group hasn’t been responsible for any of the damage to property or looting in the city. No one has had to file an insurance claim for their business or personal property because they heard an opinion they don’t like.
When will this madness cease?
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