Oregon State Police on Monday declared a protest at the state Capitol in Salem an unlawful assembly after demonstrators had forced their way into the building, with law enforcement officers forcibly pushing away some of the protesters and dispersing the crowd with blue smoke.
Tim Gruver of conservative media outlet The Center Square reported that at least two protesters were led away by state police.
Lawmakers held a one-day special legislative session in Oregon’s capital Monday to vote on coronavirus relief provisions, including a $600 million transfer to the state’s coronavirus and wildfire recovery fund, according to local media outlet KGW8. The demonstration comes after Democratic Gov. Kate Brown extended Oregon’s state of emergency expiration date from Jan. 2 to March 3.
Joey Gibson of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer wrote on Twitter Friday, “Everyone in Oregon should go to the Capitol at 8 a.m. Monday and let your voice be heard. . Everyone in Washington State needs to be ready for (Washington Gov.) Inslee to follow. If you can’t wait for business to close in March then open your doors now.”
Live video feeds showed protesters confronting law enforcement inside the building and asking if they were prepared to arrest all the protesters.
“We just want to get into the budget meeting,” one protester said to law enforcement officers who blocked them from entering the building.
Protesters could be seen outside the building, some with cameras and large Trump flags. Police officers armed with batons and tactical gear pushed the protesters away from the building, and a SWAT vehicle was present outside, Gruver reported.
The Salem Police Department advised residents to avoid the Capitol area and said they would close the streets “as needed” Monday morning.
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