PORTLAND, Ore. — Protesters marched through downtown Portland Wednesday evening, many holding signs calling for a free Palestine. Multiple businesses downtown were damaged as some members of the group smashed windows and tried to block traffic.
At around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a KGW reporter captured footage of around 100 people who started at the South Park blocks and marched along 4th Avenue to Southwest Washington Street. They then went to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where some dark-clad marchers split off and began smashing windows at the Starbucks, as well as tables, before they headed back along Southwest Broadway.
Portland State University (PSU) alerted the public to incoming police activity at the South Park blocks, asking people to avoid the area.
Property damage downtown
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said it was made aware of a planned march Wednesday evening with reported calls for property destruction. PPB said it worked to notify downtown businesses and property owners.
At around 5 p.m., PPB said officers were alerted to a group that had gathered near Southwest Park Avenue and Southwest Clay Street. At 6:30 pm., PPB received reports that a group of marchers, many dressed in black, were blocking traffic and that one or more in the group had started to break windows and damage property.
Officers worked to patrol the area, take report of the damages and investigate any crime committed. No immediate arrests were made but PPB said it will continue to investigate and arrests could be made later for anyone who participated in violent activity or property destruction.
At least one undetonated commercial-grade mortar was located and was made safe by the Metro Area Explosives Disposal Unit, PPB said. The commercial-grade mortar was found in brown paper wrapping with green fuse coming from the top. Commercial-grade fireworks were deployed, windows were broken and property was tagged with graffiti by members of the group that marched through downtown Portland, police said.
Multiple businesses were damaged, including banks, coffee shops, cell phone and electronics stores, retail clothing and accessories shops, and property belonging to Portland State University. No injuries were reported, according to PPB.
PPB is investigating these acts; if anyone has any information regarding these cases, including surveillance video, photos or other evidence, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 24-107815.
Portland police vehicles torched at training facility
Hours later, at around 1:55 a.m. Thursday, officers and firefighters were dispatched to the Portland Police Training Division in Northeast Portland, where they found at least 15 police vehicles on fire inside a fenced training area. Firefighters put out the fires and no injuries were reported. The building was not damaged.
PPB Chief Bob Day posted a statement on social media Thursday morning, saying that property destruction won't be tolerated.
"I am disheartened by the acts of vandalism over the last 12 hours. Damaging downtown businesses and vehicles at our Training Division is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he wrote. "I understand people in our community are hurting, but in no way is property destruction a productive way to address that angst. I want the community to know these criminal actions will be fully investigated."
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek released a statement condemning the criminal actions over the past week.
"I fully condemn the criminal actions taken Thursday morning that resulted in the burning of 15 Portland Police Bureau cars and endangers first responders and the surrounding community," Kotek wrote. "I have absolutely no tolerance for discriminatory harassment, violence, or property damage. This includes the acts of vandalism seen this week at the Portland State University library and against nearby businesses.
"These actions are in direct opposition to Oregon values and threaten working people, families, businesses, and our community as a whole. The Oregon State Police have launched a response on the outer perimeter of Portland State University. The state is prepared to exercise the full extent of the law."
PPB did not say whether the arson at the PPB training facility was committed by protesters. They said anyone with information about the arson case should contact PPB detective Meredith Hopper at meredith.hopper@police.portlandoregon.gov or call the PF&R tip line at 503-823-FIRE (3473) and reference case number 24-108126.
Portland police start to clear PSU library
Portland police started to clear the Portland State University library on Thursday morning.
Campus was set to open Thursday after the university canceled classes for two days, citing the library occupation. But after police moved in early Thursday morning to clear the library, Portland State announced that the campus would be closed again for a third consecutive day.
On Monday, dozens of protesters at PSU joined demonstrators at campuses nationwide in calling for an end to the war in Gaza and Israel's occupation in Palestine. At PSU, the combined group of students, faculty and staff called for the university to cut ties with aerospace company Boeing, which has reportedly supplied military hardware to Israel.
RELATED: Violence, chaos erupts on campuses as protesters and counter-protesters clash over the war in Gaza
However, the rally ended with a group breaking into the library and barricading themselves inside. Portland police estimated that 50 to 75 people broke into the library Monday evening. Around 50 protesters left the library early Wednesday morning.
Photos taken Wednesday show damage inside the library, including shattered panes of glass, graffiti and the use of tables and chairs as makeshift barricades throughout the building.
PHOTOS: PSU library occupation
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