PORTLAND — The nickname "Little Beirut" has stuck to Portland since it was first coined by the staff of former President Bush after violent protests during his visits to Oregon in the early 1990s, and the reputation remains strong as his son prepares to return more than a decade later.

Political activists and police are already planning tactics for confronting each other at demonstrations expected during the scheduled visit by President

It seems Portland has a long history of violent protests going back 30 years and more. It must be something in the water.

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20030819&slug=protests19e