Police declare another riot in Portland as protesters march to union building

Portland police declared another riot in the Oregon city on Sunday night after fireworks injured two officers during demonstrations around the Portland Police Association office. 

Police said protesters barricaded streets with dumpsters and fencing and a fire was lit on the sidewalk outside the police association office. An unlawful assembly was declared and the crowd was given “multiple warnings over a loudspeaker to disperse to the west,” according to the police statement. 

Police said protesters began to launch eggs at officers, and people who did not leave were moved away by Portland Police and Oregon state police. As protesters were moved, commercial-grade fireworks were thrown at officers and at least two officers were injured, police said.

One officer was burned on her neck and her face mask was partially melted. A sergeant standing about 10 feet away was injured in the leg. 

Shortly after 10 p.m., a riot was declared “due to the direct attacks on officers,” police said. 

Sixteen people were arrested during the Sunday night riot, police said. 

Police said no CS gas was deployed Sunday night. 

Sunday night’s riot was the second night in a row that one was declared by police. Officials declared a riot Saturday night after the police union office was set on fire. 

Protests have occurred nightly in Portland for more than 70 days, sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May. 

Last month the Trump administration sent federal authorities to quell the demonstrations. Local leaders and Democrats had criticized the move and claimed the presence of the federal officials had the reverse effect and escalated tensions.