The common sequence of events with Portland riots has been to let “protesters” have their way during the late evening hours, wait for the Antifa/BLM agitators to move to the front later in the evening, watch for them to commit acts of violence or set fires, declare an unlawful assembly, and then clear the streets and make arrests for anyone who refuses to comply.
Often times the “Third Act” doesn’t start until midnight or later, and by the time the crowd is gone and the paperwork is done, it’s deep into the early morning hours.
Mayor Ted Wheeler must have received the overtime bill for August today because it seems like Portland Police decided to get an earlier start on the Third Act tonight. There was very little of the warm up festivities, with Portland Police going quickly “unlawful assembly” and then mass arrests.
Here are some videos rolling in on Twitter.
Crowds have just arrived at the Kelly Penumbra Building. The Portland Police gave a garbled warning over the LRAD telling protesters to stay off the building property. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/ME9tXZMYcn
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
Deputies of the MCSO are currently a block away from the protest area towing cars. Witnesses tell me they have been slashing tires. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/9dO2znEQeW
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
This was before 10:45 local time.
Portland Police has just declared the gathering as an illegal assembly. Crowds are ordered to disperse to the West. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/l8l2JhpKfA
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
Officers used flashlights to identify protesters standing on the sidewalk, making more arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/0S8W4xkGWf
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
OSP Troopers and PPB officers rushed out to disperse crowds, using impact munitions & pepperballs. They made a series of arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cm0pfG1mmy
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
PPB officers and OSP troopers carried another dispersal enforcement action, pushing crowds two blocks South. They made several arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RQtKrmie43
— Portland Independent Documentarians (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020
An officer declares “half this group isn’t press!” and then proceeds to arrest every person not clearly identified as press. pic.twitter.com/wx6QsEZqV1
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) August 31, 2020
Portland pic.twitter.com/iQvwML60Ug
— special agent viti (@selfdeclaredref) August 31, 2020
After all the arrests, the crowd is much smaller. pic.twitter.com/wKB6DL2Y3Q
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020
After all the arrests, the crowd was much smaller….. genius. This is as of 11:00 pm. They should try this more often.
Police are back out to make more arrests. They almost outnumber protesters at this point pic.twitter.com/NWBdbuUaBB
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020
Interesting to see that Oregon State Police has a big crew out here. The governor announced today that they’d be supporting Portland police, which said it had constrained resources. pic.twitter.com/ft8pYWpmAA
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020
Done early, home at a reasonable hour.
That is smart riot control.
