Oregon newspaper tweets that since a white male was killed in an officer involved shooting there was no reason to riot

The Oregonian tweeted on Saturday that since it was a white male who was killed on Friday in an officer involved shooting, there was no reason to riot. In a now deleted tweet the newspaper wrote, "The man who was killed was a white male in his 30s, according to three sources with knowledge of the investigation. The Oregonian/OregonLive is identifying the man's race in light of social unrest prompted by police shootings of black people."

After severe backlash on social media, the outlet deleted the tweet and posted a clarification. "We included information in an earlier tweet about why we identified the victim's race that was poorly worded. It was not intended to minimize what happened, only to provide context. We generally do not identify race in news stories but often do when reporting police shootings."

At approximately 9:30 AM Friday, officers responded to reports of a white man pointing a gun in the 4700 block of Southeast 92nd Avenue. When officers arrived at Lents Park, according to Acting Police Chief Chris Davis, at some point during the contact, less lethal and lethal weapons were deployed. Two officers deployed 40 mm rounds and one officer used lethal force. Officers provided emergency medical attention and medical assistance was staged nearby, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as Robert Douglas Delgado, 46 and according to an autopsy, was killed by a single gunshot wound.

Activists who flocked to the area screamed at mayor Ted Wheeler when he came to tour the scene.

Over 100 activists at the scene became violent according to PPB, and tore down crime-scene police tape and came into the site. Officers had to create a blockade on multiple sides of the scene to keep the crowd back and were hit with sticks and full water bottles were thrown at them. One group of the rioters grabbed an officer’s baton and tried to pull it away. Officers deployed pepper spray to repel the crowd.

According to PPB, at least one police vehicle’s tires were flattened as officers were chased and had objects thrown at them. Officers used smoke canisters in an attempt to create an exit to leave the area, but the crowd followed. A Rubber Ball Distraction Device was also used to allow officers to leave. No officers were injured. No arrests were made.

During the violence, an Asian American journalist named Justin Yau, was assaulted and injured by the mob.

In 2020, in the wake of the death of George Floyd BLM and Antifa rioted in Portland and terrorized the city for over 120 consecutive nights. In December an autonomous zone was formed and following the inauguration of Joe Biden, riots resumed.

On Friday night, BLM and Antifa rioters burned down buildings in the downtown Portland area, including an Apple Store.