The Eugene Police Department in Oregon has made multiple arrests following a violent pro-abortion riot in which protesters threw smoke bombs at officers and ignored calls to disperse. The department said a multiple-agency response was required for the "downtown civil unrest," which included calling for backup from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the five-hour riot, in which some officers suffered minor injuries, the department said in a post to Facebook.
As a Friday night rally grew violent, an officer used a public address system to admonish a group of more than 75 people and say they were committing disorderly conduct and were subject to arrest, the department said.
"This had no effect on the crowd and they advanced closer to officers," the post reads. "Unknown people in the crowd threw smoke bombs at officers along with several filled water bottles."
The department said it received reports of a group publicizing on social media for people to come to a "Night of Rage" on June 24, in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. The group’s stated meeting point was Dove Medical Center around 10 pm.
Eugene Police monitored the situation due to the potential for property damage and the general safety and security of residents and businesses downtown, the department said.
Around 9:21 pm, people began arriving wearing all black clothing with masks and hoods, with many carrying backpacks "that appeared to contain unknown objects." The crowd started growing and moved toward the medical building, the department said.
Eugene Police’s Mobile Response Team arrived and used vehicles and officers to surround the building. The crowd continued to grow and blocked the road in front of the building.
"Some people were observed picking up rocks and several began putting on gas masks," the department said. "One female had a chemical pump sprayer and she was pumping it up."
At this point, additional police resources were called in. An officer told the group they were committing disorderly conduct and were subject to arrest. The group ignored the warning, moved closer to the officers, and began throwing smoke bombs and filled water bottles.
The police used a sound truck so the admonishments would be louder and heard over the crowd noise, the department said.
"Those who remained in the roadway were subject to arrest. The crowd did not comply," the post reads. "After the first arrest, the crowd became extremely loud and verbally hostile toward the officers and tried to get through the line."
The department called in additional resources including the Springfield Police Department and the DHS.
Some protesters did not comply with lawful orders, leading the police to deploy inert pepperballs (pepper balls with no chemical munitions) at crowd's feet and legs.
"At that point the crowd size decreased," the department said.
According to the Eugene Police department, Destiny Aaliyah Woolman, 20, has been arrested for harassment. Mikayla D'Ann Alexander, 22, has been arrested for disorderly conduct as has Brandon Emmanual Caletz, 24, Rhiannon Elizabeth Clayton, 19, Rachel Jean Tillman, 29, Kira Anne Elliott, 20, Hayden Martin Williams, 19, Alex Kendahl Woodward Franz, 18, and Elijah Gabriel Comer, 20.
Orion Timothy Deschamps, 20, has been arrested for disorderly conduct, escape in the third degree, and resisting arrest.
The incident forced the department to enter 'priority calls,' where much of the community’s individual calls for service, if they are not immediate life-safety emergencies, are placed on hold or not responded to.
The incident comes as the DHS released a memo on Friday warning about terrorist threats originating from far-left, pro-abortion radicals.
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy