At the end of May, rioting and looting broke out in Portland, Ore., as it did in dozens of other American cities in response to…
At the end of May, rioting and looting broke out in Portland, Ore., as it did in dozens of other American cities in response to the police-involved death of George Floyd. In one night, hundreds of rioters ravaged downtown, breaking into jewelry stores, the mall and banks. They left a trail of broken windows and fires in their wake. That was seven weeks ago. And while violent protests have ebbed or stopped everywhere else, it has continued and grown stronger in Portland.
For 58 days, mass protests and riots have taken over parts of the city. Some streets and areas are literal “no-go zones” at night — either blocked by fires or teams of “guards.”
Day after day, hundreds and even thousands take to the streets and claim the territory as theirs. They cycle through a number of chants like “All cops are bastards” and “F- -k the police.” A large number of them participate in violent criminal acts such as arson and assault. They’ve made it a game to lure law-enforcement officers out of buildings so they can assault them with blinding lasers, paint, rocks and other weapons.
Those who don’t engage in direct violence cheer them on, assist in “de-arresting” comrades and act as cop watchers. Rioters try, and have succeeded in, breaking into Portland police facilities. Now they’re focused on the federal Mark O. Hatfield US Courthouse in response to the Department of Homeland Security sending in reinforcements earlier this month.
Besides the violence and anarchy, what exactly do the rioters want?
As witnessed in the former “autonomous zone” in Seattle, the far-left movement in Portland has no declared “leaders.
