Far-left agitators stormed Portland City Hall Wednesday, cursing through bullhorns, disrupting a meeting, and assaulting security guards.
The activists, including masked antifa agitators, were protesting what they called “police brutality” after Portland Police used strong crowd-control techniques to control the violent “antifascist” counter-demonstration Saturday at the Patriot Prayer rally.
Police fired rubber bullets and flash-bangs into the rioting crowd after antifa counter-protesters refused police orders to get out of the street, and threw rocks and bottles at officers.
“End police brutality!” the activists chanted.
city council vacating their seats upon people chanting END POLICE BRUTALITY. They gathered in reaction to cops beating antifascist counterdemonstrators at alt-right rally over the weekend pic.twitter.com/YhK0PoDeHn
— alyssa pariah 🇵🇷 🇵🇸 (@alyssapariah) August 8, 2018
Mayor Ted Wheeler asked attendees to stop chanting, and when they refused, he recessed the meeting.
Wheeler and the commissioners reconvened in a conference room outside the mayor’s office. None were allowed in except city staff, the press and people called to testify on council business.
They continued working despite muffled chants of “shame on you” from the activists outside.
Downstairs, security had their hands full, as dozens of protesters tried to enter city hall near a coffee kiosk.
“Come down Wheeler!” the crowd chanted between verbal barbs and invective hurled at security as well several police officers who appeared in the atrium.
“It’s our f—— building,” one demonstrator screamed.
But police threatened the protesters with arrest if they did not leave the building immediately. Another protester grabbed a glass sugar urn from the coffee stand and smashed it on the floor.
The crowd devolved into a dangerous mob when a wall of security personnel began forcing them out of the building.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” they chanted, while someone flipped the bird.
A masked antifa thug wearing a baseball helmet and gray shirt smashed a security guard over the head and face repeatedly with a megaphone.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE. Protesters storm Portland City Hall, injuring guards; arrests made https://t.co/O7Jw815ZGe pic.twitter.com/zPX110mXBy
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) August 8, 2018
The Oregonian reported that the guard was seen later holding a bag of ice as a bruise formed on his cheek.
The Portland City Hall security chief said she was also assaulted by a protester after getting hit in the arm. Portland Police said that “neither of the security officers suffered injuries that required medical transport by ambulance.”
According to The Oregonian, some of the counter-protesters who were allegedly injured at the Patriot Prayer rally were on the scene Wednesday protesting city officials.
“I should be home recovering from the pain and trauma I’m suffering. But I’m also suffering from complete outrage and powerlessness,” said Michelle Fawcett, who lives in Portland.
Fawcett, 52, sustained third-degree chemical burns after she was struck by a flash-bang grenade fired by police at counter-demonstrators. The non-lethal munition is meant to deliver a jarring blast of noise and light that can disperse crowds of people.
Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw on Monday said the bureau had temporarily suspended the use of the flash-bang projectiles, which she and other department officials refer to as aerial distraction devices, until it can be determined if they are working properly.
At least three people, including Fawcett, were hospitalized Saturday, according to activists and counter-protest organizers. Others who came to City Hall said they sustained less serious wounds.
They would have sustained zero wounds if they had obeyed police orders.
The bullhorn-wielding assailant was seen lying on the floor outside the mayor’s office and was “detained and carried out of City Hall by his arms and legs,” The Oregonian reported.
Protesters storm Portland City Hall, guards injured, arrest made https://t.co/XCAptMuSbn pic.twitter.com/hzwOuSr5lJ
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) August 8, 2018
But according to the Portland Police Bureau, “officers were not able to take the suspect who reportedly assaulted City Hall security officers today.”
“At this time, no arrests have been made in connection to the assault,” Portland Police said.
The police did arrest Diane Keeauver, 67, and an unidentified man who was being held at the jail as “John Doe.” Both were charged with trespass in the second degree.
Two People Arrested During Protest at Portland City Hall Wednesday (Photo) https://t.co/P7QwMGDmR6 pic.twitter.com/0RV2dRYb6f
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 8, 2018
Both people were lodged at the Multnomah County Jail.
The Portland Police Bureau also said officers will “write a report” after a protester complained about being “elbowed” by a security officer.
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