Antifa establish new ‘autonomous zone’ in Portland after chasing away cops

The protest erupted after police raided a house on Mississippi Avenue around 5 a.m. on Tuesday. For months, radical left-wing activists had been occupying the property known as the “Red House” to protect squatters who were legally served multiple eviction notices.

The Portland Police Bureau assisted the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office this morning in initially clearing out the property. Police encountered resistance, including from a person with a firearm who was taken into custody. Several other guns were recovered at the scene. Soon after, Antifa accounts on social media called for comrades to retake the space.

“There is an active call for numbers, defensive gear and supplies, and change of clothes/bloc,” tweeted the Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front. “Get up and get your ass to 4406 N Mississippi Ave.”

By the later morning, around 100 militants gathered outside the property to set up an “autonomous zone.” They set up barriers on the street using stolen property and reinforced them with power tools. Traffic has been shut down on that part of the street. They put up a sign that reads, “No Jurisdiction,” echoing the rhetoric of the former Capital Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle that ended in multiple shootings and homicides.

When Portland Police officers responded to the growing “autonomous zone” in north Portland, they were attacked and chased away by rioters. Shocking video footage shows rioters brazenly running up to attack officers and smash police cruisers. In anticipation of police returning, rioters have assembled a large pile of rocks to be used as projectiles.

At least 10 suspects were arrested at the early morning raid by police for trespass and other offenses. Transsexual suspect Lester Lou Wrecksie, formerly known as Teresa Lou Gronwoldt, was among those booked into jail. Wrecksie was arrested in July at a BLM-antifa riot in north Portland and charged with felony riot, resisting arrest and other crimes. All those charges were dropped by the district attorney’s office.

Those arrested in the morning raid:

Charles Stubbs, 41: Trespass II Lester Wrecksie, 44: Trespass II Joshua Rodgers, 40: Trespass II Jonathan Lalej, 25: Trespass II Matthew Stewart, 31: Trespass II Christopher Wilkins, 43: Trespass II Nicholas Piochei, 31: Trespass II, Resist Arrest Ashterot Ember Brimstone, 30: Trespass

William Kinney, 35: Trespass Michael Paul Jordan Kinney, 30: Tresspass

Six others were arrested in the later morning riot:

Malik Farrakhan, 26: Interfering with a peace officer, resist arrest Benjamin Einhorn, 32: Interfering a with a peace officer Coral Cloutman, 31: Disorderly Conduct II Stephen Wiens, 24: Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering a with peace officer Marshall Piotcowski, 23: Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering a with peace officer Alicxandra Blake Lucero, 26: Interfere with a peace officer, Resist Arrest, Trespass II

Portland Police say in a press release that they have received at least 81 calls since extremists began occupying the area around the property in September. Concerned callers have made reports over shots being fired, fights, threats by armed individuals, burglary, thefts, vandalism and other crimes.

Matt Miller contributed to this report.