Portland Riots Read-Out: July 23
Release Date:
July 23, 2020
The Bottom Line:
As they have for the past 54 straight days, violent anarchists continue to riot on the streets of Portland as federal law enforcement officers work diligently and honorably to enforce federal law by defending federal property and the lives of their fellow officers.
After days of violent anarchists’ repeated attacks on the courthouse resulting in multiple damages to the federal courthouse DHS made the decision to put up a stronger fence around the courthouse perimeter. This new, more secure fencing became a target of repeated attack by rioters throughout the course of the evening. Federal officers were again assaulted with projectiles, mortar style fireworks and lasers – which can cause permanent blindness.
The Past 24 hours:
Around dusk the crowd started to gather. It quickly grew to over 2,000 individuals and spilled into the two city parks adjacent to the Federal Center and Justice Center.
Around 10:30 p.m. local time, rioters started to launch mortar-style fireworks over the fence at the federal courthouse and officers.
Rioters also started to attack the fence surrounding the courthouse. In response, federal officers warned the perpetrators to stop their attempts to damage federal property. Instead, rioters threw garbage and other objects over the fence in response. Reports indicated that ball bearings were also being shot against the fence and at the officers inside the perimeter.
Consistent with tactics employed in previous nights, rioters attacked federal officers’ eyes with lasers – which can cause permanent blindness.
Around 10:30 p.m. local time, rioters attempted to push over the fence while rioters also started to throw flaming objects over it. Mortar-style fireworks continued to be launched at federal property and officers as well.
At around 11:15 p.m. local time, DHS officers continued to urge those present from attempting to damage or breach the fence.
At 11:45 p.m. local time, DHS officers moved out to defend the fence from rioters and were immediately attacked with lasers. Rioters continued to throw rocks and commercial grade fireworks. They also began to launch a caustic substance resembling paint at officers inside the perimeter of the fence.
Throughout this time, DHS officers continued to repeatedly warn the crowd against attacking the fence or entering federal property. Firework mortars continued to be launched by the violent anarchists with one exploding in the entryway of the federal courthouse.
At 12:01 a.m. local time, the doors of the Edith Green Federal building were vandalized.
At 12:30 a.m. local time. Portland Police (PPB) declared an unlawful and riotous assembly. Both PPB and Federal law enforcement began to make warnings about the riot declaration.
During the 1 am hour, multiple Molotov cocktails were thrown over the fence at the courthouse as rioters continued to attack officers with mortar-style fireworks and lasers.
Around this time, a fire also started inside the fence and rioters made two more separate attempts to tear down the fence while conducting heavy laser attacks against federal officers.
During the evening’s violence one CBP officer suffered a chemical burn resulting from a caustic substance thrown by rioters, another suffered a possible broken toe, one suffered a severe blow to his face from a hard object. FPS reported nine new injuries to officers as well.
9 total arrests were conducted by DHS officers.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/07/23/portland-riots-read-out-july-23