October 11, 2020 03:47
A mass gathering formed in Northeast Portland and marched to North Precinct, where many began to block a major thoroughfare. Officers moved them out of the lanes of travel, and targeted arrests were made.
On Saturday, October 10, 2020 at about 9:30p.m., a gathering formed in Alberta Park, 1905 Northeast Killingsworth Street. The participants moved on sidewalks to North Precinct, 449 Northeast Emerson Street. When the group arrived, they were numbered at an estimated 75 people. Virtually all of them wore armor, helmets, masks, and/or carried shields and umbrellas.
North Precinct, an active community policing center operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is a critical part of city infrastructure. It has been targeted numerous times over the past 130-plus nights by violent protests, including some that devolved into riots, arson fires, and violent attacks on officers. On numerous occasions, officers have attempted to deescalate by staying far back, and not intervening when streets were blocked by crowds. That strategy has not been successful in preventing violence from individuals in the crowd who are intent on forcing officers to respond.
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) had information that the gathering was a planned "direct action" event. The crowd's posture, including their armored attire, strongly suggested that this was planned to be another such event. PPB was also concerned about the safety of the protesters, who were clad in black and difficult to see, on a major thoroughfare that was open to vehicular traffic. Due to these concerns, and the fact there were resources in place to make arrests, action was taken earlier in this event than ones before.
There were multiple warnings broadcast over loudspeaker and social media (Twitter):
"This is the Portland Police Bureau. To those gathered near North Precinct, NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd is open to vehicular traffic. Immediately vacate the roadway and proceed to the sidewalk. Additionally, do not participate in criminal activity. Those who do not move off NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd will be subject to citation, arrest or force. If you remain in the roadway and show the intent to engage in physical resistance to removal, or if emergency circumstances require, you may be subject to the use of crowd control agents, including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons. Move to the sidewalk now."
While the Portland Police Bureau is adhering to a directive not to use CS gas, the term "tear gas" is required by state law to be included in such warnings.
After a pause to allow people a chance to move to the sidewalk, Portland Police officers moved the crowd out of the street and made targeted arrests. The road was soon reopened.
PPB fully supports community members exercising their free speech and other constitutional rights, and we ask that they do so safely and within the law.
Twenty-six people were arrested. All were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
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