Violence Erupts in Portland as Rioters Reportedly Hurl Molotov Cocktails at Federal Officers

Protests descended into violent chaos yet again in Portland over the weekend, as protesters targeted the federal courthouse and reportedly hurled Molotov cocktails toward federal officers.

Chaos erupted in the city again late Sunday into early Monday morning as protesters attempted to breach the fence of the federal courthouse, hurling “mortar-style fireworks over the fence.”A group also lit what the Portland Police described as a “large fire in Lownsdale Square Park”:

On July 27, 2020 at about 12:59 a.m. somebody started a fire just inside the fence along SW 3rd Avenue. The fire started quickly, grew into large flames on the sidewalk, and was out within about a minute. Following that, dozens of people approached the outside of the fence with shields and began throwing objects over it.

Footage from the protests show demonstrators throwing what appear to be Molotov cocktails toward federal officers:

Portland Police did not assist federal law enforcement in dispersing the crowds and did not make any arrests late Sunday or early Monday morning.

The violence coincided with police recovering a bag filled with loaded rifle magazines and Molotov cocktails near Lownsdale Square Park. Portland Police provided a picture of the discovery on social media:

According to the Portland Police Bureau, “the origin of this ammunition and these destructive devices is under investigation.”

While Portland Police did not engage with protesters late Sunday, it did declare a riot in downtown Portland on July 26, arresting several people, including:

29-year-old Dana Parks, Portland: Resist Arrest, Attempt Assault of Public Safety Officer x 2, Escape III x 2, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II

29-year-old Rhys Alan Wiski-Sutton: Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II, Resist Arrest

28- year-old Christopher J. Briggs: Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II

28-year-old Mackenzie D. Kirsch: Interfering with a Peace Officer

24-year-old Ahnauna Andrews, Portland: Interfering with a Peace Officer

32-year-old Zachary A. Trudo, Hillsboro: Interfering with a Peace Officer, Assault IV, Resist Arrest, Attempt Escape III

Notably, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, recently called the Antifa violence ravaging Portland “a myth.”