Sixth night of protests in Portland attracts thousands
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Thousands of protesters gathered on Wednesday night for the sixth consecutive night of protests in Portland and remained largely peaceful, police said.
The Portland Police Bureau said the large crowd dispersed by 2 a.m. and there were no major issues. A smaller number of what police described as “agitators” stayed downtown into the early morning hours, setting small fires and vandalizing businesses.
Police Chief Jami Resch thanked the peaceful protesters and said her officers will continue to identify and arrest those who are causing damage.
“Tonight was a great example of a safe and responsible demonstration. This speaks to the testament of the thousands of participants and sends a powerful message. I greatly appreciate the community for expressing themselves while respecting others,” she said.
“We have witnessed a pattern of behavior in the past several days where select agitators remain and target the police, engage in crimes, and cause disorder. We will continue our efforts to identify, arrest, and hold responsible those who engage in crimes in our city.”
Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff to honor George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee to Floyd's neck during an arrest.
