A riot was declared Friday night in downtown Portland, Oregon, when an Antifa group began to breach the gate into the Multnomah County Detention Center, following the not guilty verdict in the high-profile Kyle Rittenhouse case.
18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges Friday, found by the jury having acted in self-defense when he shot three Black Lives Matter rioters, killing two and injuring the third, during the August 2020 riots that erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting and wounding of Jacob Blake.
Portland law enforcement declared a riot Friday night after BLM-Antifa activists took the streets across majority US cities in solidarity with Kenosha. Antifa rioted and damaged property in downtown Portland as vengeance for the jury's verdict.
An estimated 200 "hostile" individuals rioted at the downtown Multnomah County Justice Center around 8:45 pm PST, hurling "urine, alcoholic beverages, water bottles, and batteries" at deputies blocking the ramp entrance into the government complex, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Several members of the crowd were heard saying "burn it down," referring to the Justice Center, which houses inmates, the central police station, and the sheriff's office.
#Antifa launched an attack on the Justice Center in downtown Portland, Ore. overnight following the #Rittenhouse verdict. They chanted about wanting to burn down the building, which houses inmates, the central police station & the sheriff's office. https://t.co/VNYxMtszuQ pic.twitter.com/sgtZEViQpo
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) November 20, 2021
"Because a large group of people were engaging in tumultuous and violent conduct, and further entry into the building would have posed significant implications and grave risk of causing public alarm, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office declared a riot," the office said in a statement Saturday.
FOX 12 Oregon reported the rioters smashed windows and broke doors.
A crowd gathered near SW 2nd Avenue and SW Madison Street and participants began breaking windows and damaging doors of city facilities in the area as rioters launched objects at police officers in the area, Portland Police tweeted.
Due to violent, destructive behavior by a significant part of the crowd, the gathering in downtown Portland is a RIOT. All participants are instructed to proceed away to the WEST.
— PPB Event Messages (@PPBAlerts) November 20, 2021
The rioters shattered the rear hatch window of a patrol sergeant's cruiser, windows from the city print shop, and tagged the justice center building, police reported. "All cops are Kyles" was spray painted on the front of the PPB's central precinct.
After Kyle #Rittenhouse was found not guilty, #antifa in Portland organized an attempt to break inside the Justice Center to burn it down. They attacked police & also smashed up a passing driver's vehicle & targeted nearby buildings. Police declared a riot https://t.co/KhALOWp8AC pic.twitter.com/EA8nVZMPg1
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) November 20, 2021
Antifa rioters shut down the road outside the Justice Center and chanted, "Kyle is a terrorist!" Attempting to incite violence, the anti-Rittenhouse mob yelled, "Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground!"
#Antifa in downtown Portland incite violence by chanting one of their favorites: “Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground.” They gathered to try & break inside the Justice Center to oppose #Rittenhouse verdict. pic.twitter.com/wra92TPtpx
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) November 20, 2021
Due to the "violent, destructive behavior" by a significant part of the crowd, the gathering in downtown Portland was declared a riot, PPB announced.
A dispersal order was issued via social media and loud speaker, instructing rioters to travel west and warning that failure to adhere may result in citations, arrests, and use-of-force, including pepper spray and impact weapons.
These messages are being issued to the crowd via loudspeaker. We're asking anyone aware of someone in the crowd who is hard of hearing or would like to get clarity on directions given, please direct them to this Twitter feed.
— PPB Event Messages (@PPBAlerts) November 20, 2021
PPB clarified that the MCSO declared the riot when the gate to the detention center was being damaged. Portland Police's sound truck was used to broadcast the information on behalf of law enforcment partners. MCSO directed the PPB incident command to communicate the riot declaration and use-of-force warnings to the demonstrators using the mobile sound truck, MCSO added.
Portland Police appeared to retreat as violent Antifa rioters in black bloc advanced, shouting threats: "F*ck you! Move back, motherf*ckers! You f*cking cowards!"
.@PortlandPolice appear to retreat as violent #antifa members in Portland threaten them. The antifa gathered in black bloc in downtown to destroy property to oppose #Rittenhouse verdict. pic.twitter.com/rli5oM8j56
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) November 20, 2021
Significant resources were diverted to address Friday's riot, affecting response times. "While we have officers assigned to address emergencies citywide, lower priority calls will have to wait for a while," Portland Police tweeted.
Significant resources have been diverted to address this riot and it is affecting response times. While we have officers assigned to address emergencies citywide, lower priority calls will have to wait for a while. We appreciate your patience! https://t.co/VgPe4YXunE
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 20, 2021
The severe staffing shortages within the Portland Police are due to police defunding and the demoralizing work environment. The few remaining officers were deployed to prevent Antifa rioters from storming the Justice Center.
One arrest was made for a warrant and another person was criminally cited. Five citations and 17 warnings were issued, PPB reported in a press release Saturday.
Antifa rioters also attacked a KATU camera crew and attempted to keep the press team from recording the events unfolding downtown Friday night.
After the mob demanded the crew stop documenting the chaotic scene, Antifa rioters then attacked the KATU camera operator when the crew asserted its right to record in a public space. A confrontation occurred between the violent radicals and the local ABC-affiliated television station's security guards. The news crew was uninjured but the camera was damaged, KATU reported.
"Because of sustained threats & assaults like this, most news crews don't send reporters to cover the antifa events, leaving few who do at more risk," tweeted The Post Millennial editor-at-large Andy Ngo, who has been assaulted by Antifa.
At the #antifa riot in downtown Portland, the militants threatened & attacked a @KATUNews press team. Here is their video. @uspresstracker, @SPJOregon & @pressfreedom largely silent over crisis of violence against press by far-left extremists. pic.twitter.com/UmXDl3yGkT
— Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) November 20, 2021
Ngo noted that the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, Society of Professional Journalists's Greater Oregon chapter, and Committee to Protect Journalists have been "largely silent" over the crisis of violence against press by far-left extremists.
Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty released a statement, saying in part:
"People have a right to be upset, and the right to protest. Just as protestors have a right to film the police or anything occurring in public, the press has the right to film what's occurring in public. I'm still learning the full details of what occurred last night but want to make it clear that attacking or intimidating the press is never acceptable, such as what happened to a KATU crew last night."
I’m still learning the full details of what occurred last night but want to make it clear that attacking or intimidating the press is never acceptable, such as what happened to a @KATUNews crew last night.
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) November 20, 2021
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler thanked authorities for policing the riot and condemned the property damage as well as the violence carried out:
"Thank you @PortlandPolice for your service last night. While I support peaceful protests, I strongly condemn any acts of criminal destruction and violence. This is not advocacy to advance reforms. These actions do not reflect our values as a city."
Thank you @PortlandPolice for your service last night.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) November 20, 2021
While I support peaceful protests, I strongly condemn any acts of criminal destruction and violence. This is not advocacy to advance reforms. These actions do not reflect our values as a city. https://t.co/jOaxQketMI
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration has been in communication with law enforcement channels to ensure that whatever BLM protests occur following the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict remain "peaceful."
Ahead of the anticipated verdict, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced last Friday that he has authorized around 500 Wisconsin Army National Guard troops to support law enforcement authorities policing expected protests in Kenosha.
President Joe Biden issued a statement Friday, calling for calm but also expressing that he's "feeling angry and concerned" over the Rittenhouse acquittal.
"While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken," Biden stated in the White House press release. "I ran on a promise to bring Americans together, because I believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us."
In a written statement, Biden responds to the verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial in Kenosha, writing, “While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken.” https://t.co/QSxket8F8y pic.twitter.com/kOvMYIVENr
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) November 19, 2021
"I urge everyone to express their views peacefully, consistent with the rule of law. Violence and destruction of property have no place in our democracy," he added.
After jurors found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts, Biden told reporters that he stands with the jury system. "Well look, I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works, and we have to abide by it," Biden said to the media.
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