Protesters in Portland, Oregon, lit a police precinct on fire, leading law enforcement officials to declare a riot.
More than 300 protesters took to the city streets to protest on Sunday night. They lit an awning at the north precinct on fire, after which police responded by firing tear gas. The fire was swiftly extinguished, according to the Oregonian.
The Portland Police Bureau said demonstrators are attacking officers.
“Criminal activity has been observed,” the police department tweeted. “Rocks and glass bottles have been thrown at officers. Powerful green lasers are being pointed. Stop attacking officers.”
Police said “numerous” warnings were given, but criminal activity continued.
“This is being declared an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. All participants must leave to the SOUTH,” Portland police said in a tweet. “Failure to adhere to this direction may subject you to citation, arrest, and/or crowd control agents including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons. Leave to the south now.”
Demonstrations in Portland have been going on since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody three months ago. The unrest on Sunday came after video emerged appearing to show another black man, identified as Jacob Blake, being shot multiple times by a police officer in Wisconsin. Blake, who is critically injured, was sent to a hospital. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal is investigating the incident.
The protesters in Portland shouted Blake’s name during their march to the police station.
