The “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) outbreak in the U.S. in the summer of 2020 triggered a chain reaction in several cities, including Portland, Oregon, where there have been occasional riots until recently. Local prosecutors say the protests have caused at least $2.3 million in damage to federal units since the demonstrations took place last year.
Fox News reports that riots of varying degrees of intensity and violent clashes with police have been occurring almost nightly for more than two months near the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. Demonstrators have been using the courthouse as a centerpiece for graffiti, window breakings, fireworks, and petrol bombs to set fires in the area.
Federal officials were ordered to fortify and protect the courthouse building as early as the Trump administration due to repeated damage to the federal building by protesters. Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams told local media that the cost to repair and clean up the courthouse and four other government buildings has exceeded $2 million and is likely to increase as the riots continue.
The government buildings allegedly damaged include the Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building, the Gus Solomon U.S. Courthouse (Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse), the Pioneer Courthouse (Pioneer Courthouse), and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE Building) in Portland.
Although the apparent cause of the riot was dissatisfaction with the Trump Administration‘s right-wing conservative policies and opposition to police brutality and racial discrimination, Portland protesters did not disperse even though President Biden took office last month, and new anti-Biden graffiti appeared on the scene.
Portland police said local demonstrators armed with riot guns, pepper ball guns and fireworks confronted police and again vandalized the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. Demonstrators held signs saying, “We don’t want Biden, we want revenge” and “We must not be ruled. Even the state’s Democratic Party headquarters was allegedly vandalized by the mob.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Peaceful demonstrations are a cornerstone of democracy, but they do not include window smashing and vandalism” and “Such behavior is completely unacceptable.”
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