Protests erupt at Portland police building, mayor's condo

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Fires set outside a police union building that's a frequent site for protests in Portland, Oregon, prompted police to declare a riot early Saturday and detain several demonstrators. An accelerant was used to ignite a mattress and other debris that was laid against the door of the Portland Police Association building, police said in a statement. At least one dumpster had also been set on fire in the street nearby.

As officers approached to move demonstrators away from the building and extinguish the fire, objects including rocks were thrown at them, police said. Multiple officers suffered minor injuries, according to the statement. The fire was put out and several people were arrested, police stated, though exact numbers weren't immediately available. The building was damaged, and a bottle containing flammable fluid was found near the scene. Witnesses also said a car drove by near the demonstration and someone inside fired several gunshots into the air.

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The commotion followed a sit-in in the lobby of the Portland mayor's condo building Friday night. Protesters have issued demands, including police budget reductions and Mayor Ted Wheeler’s resignation, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A crowd of about 150 had gathered outside the building.

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Earlier Friday, Wheeler had said he sent a letter to President Donald Trump declining his offers to help the city manage the protests.

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dcsports said:

Protests erupt at Portland police building, mayor'''s condo







Now even the protesters are turning against the mayor. I'm sure his neighbors aren't excited about this. At some point the Mayor is going to have to address the nightly violence in his city.

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Metric Mouse said:

Wait, I thought this was about the Feds being there? Why are they after the mayor and the local PD? Did the feds leave?

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dcsports said:

The feds didn't 'leave' but they withdrew many and pulled back, turning over security to the state police. The state police withdrew after the DA started dropping charges for most of the arrests, stating they were going to focus on areas where local prosecutors would prosecute crimes, so it's all back on Portland PD now, which has stated they are overwhelmed.

The nightly bad behavior has turned to other areas - including police precinct stations, city hall, police union building, and now the may The federal pullback didn't do anything but shift the targets.

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dcsports said:

Protests erupt at Portland police building, mayor'''s condo







Now even the protesters are turning against the mayor. I'm sure his neighbors aren't excited about this. At some point the Mayor is going to have to address the nightly violence in his city.

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Roadvirus said:

Still committing arson....

Meanwhile, the mayor refuses any Fed help. What an idiot. Portland deserves what they get with this twatwaffle.

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dcsports said:

Protests erupt at Portland police building, mayor'''s condo







Now even the protesters are turning against the mayor. I'm sure his neighbors aren't excited about this. At some point the Mayor is going to have to address the nightly violence in his city.

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Metric Mouse said:

Maybe now the Mayor of Portland will begin to take these demonstrations seriously.

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