Portland protesters again block streets; leader arrested

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Protesters blocked downtown streets Monday night in the latest demonstration in Portland in response to the presidential election.

Police were making arrests during the protest against president-elect Donald Trump, The Oregonian reported (http://bit.ly/2gckRjF).

The newspaper reported that protest leader Gregory McKelvey of the group Portland’s Resistance and another person appeared to be taken into custody near the Multnomah County Courthouse shortly after police tweeted that protesters were blocking Southwest Fifth Avenue.

The protest, which started with about 100 students and others gathered at Holliday Park, later moved across the Burnside Bridge to downtown Portland.

Police later said McKelvey was arrested on second-degree disorderly conduct charges, while Micah Rhodes, 23, and Kathryn Stevens, 24, faced the same charge, as well as interfering with a peace officer. Police said McKelvey and Rhodes encouraged and directed student protesters to “counter lawful police orders” being broadcast by loudspeaker.

They said the students congregated at the City Hall plaza, held a brief rally beside the Justice Center and left downtown without further activities.