Portland Protests: Two Demonstrations Become 'Civil Disturbance'

PORTLAND, OR – Dueling demonstrations Saturday on the streets of downtown Portland once again led to violence and arrests. Police report that in addition to reported assaults, there were incidents of projectiles – flaming and otherwise – being thrown at officers and protesters.

It started around 1 p.m. with a planned demonstration by members of the far-right Patriots Prayer group who had splintered off..

Organizers described it as a "#HimToo" demonstration, intended to bring attention to their claim that "as long as women who accuse men of sexual attacks are believed without evidence or due process, no man is safe."

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They were met near Terry Schrunk Plaza by a counter-protest planned by the far-left Rose City Antifa. They are calling their rally, "Stand with Survivors Against Patriot Prayer."

As has become routine, both groups appeared to reject overtures from the Portland Police to meet ahead of time and develop a strategy to keep everyone safe and make sure that violence didn't become an issue.

Portland officials had said ahead of time that they would be on scene Saturday with the intent of providing "a safe environment for all participants, non-participants, and community members while ensuring the peaceful exercise of the First Amendment."

While the police added a reminder that "persons attending any of the event should not bring any weapons or items that can be used as weapons," the message was either not received or ignored.

Things were quite low-key at the start as members of #HimToo delivered speeches.

It was after the speeches and the #HimToo protesters started to march that things took a turn.

Around Columbia and 3rd that they ran into the Antifa counter-protesters and clashes started. Quickly things went from being between #HimToo and Antifa to being Antifa and police officers.

"A-C-A-C, all cops are bastards," the Antifa group could be heard chanting.

Police say that there were multiple reports of assault and several instances of things being thrown at the #HimToo protesters and at officers. These things included: sticks, glass bottles, lit road flares, bottles filled with a liquid believed to be urine, and gopher gas.

Six people were arrested and police say that they are aware that several instances of criminal behavior were filmed and broadcast on a various media platforms. These crimes may include, but are not limited to: Disorderly Conduct, Assault, Theft, and Reckless Burning. Investigators will be conducting follow-up which may lead to arrests at a later time

There were some critics who blamed police actions with causing the reaction from the counter-protesters.

The police bureau disputes that.

"The Portland Police Bureau spent considerable time planning for today's demonstration and counter demonstration," Chief Danielle Outlaw said. "We used significant resources and attempted to keep opposing groups apart, both when they were in the parks and as they traveled through downtown.

"Our goal was to keep all people in the community safe."

It's the fact that Portland has been the home to a number of violent protests over the past two years that led Mayor Ted Wheeler to introduce a "Safety Ordinance" before the council last week that would have given the police commissioner (in this instance, Wheeler) to place limits on when and where demonstrations could take place.

Wheeler had said that the ordinance would protect First Amendment guarantees but would establish specific guidelines on where and when demonstrations could happen as is the case in cities including Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Long Beach, Cincinnati, Springfield, and Raleigh.

His office had pointed out that similar regulations have faced legal challenges in cities including New York, Seattle, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Tacoma – and survived.

The council rejected the ordinance in a 3-2 vote.

Wheeler's ordinance came on the heels of a statement by the head of the police union, Daryl Turner, that Portland has developed an image of being "one of the most politically violent cities in America.

"Lawlessness, aggression, and violence have replaced peaceful protests. In a harshly divided nation, we have become a stark example of what happens when fringe groups get exactly what they ask for with their grandstanding – attention."

Political protests in Portland have become increasingly violent since Election night 2016. Those protests, which garnered national attention, lasted for six nights and resulted in more than 100 arrests.

It turned out that the majority of those had not bothered to cast a vote in the election.

File photo of dueling protests in downtown Portland via Travis Loose/Patch.