Portland Riots Read-out: August 1
AUGUST 1, 2020
Bottom line:
After weeks of rioting and nightly attacks on federal officers and property, activity in the vicinity of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse continues in an overall trend of diminishing violence as a result of the increased cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. In stark contrast to the intense weekend violence in Portland over the past two months, protests around federal property remained generally peaceful with only minor incidents of malicious activity.
Following Wednesday’s announcement of a cooperation agreement between DHS and Oregon’s governor, Oregon State Police (OSP) stepped in to assist operations protecting the Hatfield Federal Courthouse. Friday evening marked the second night of federal and state law enforcement cooperation on the ground. While the violence is abating, DHS’s enhanced presence on the ground will remain for the time being until the Department determines that the courthouse and other federal property are safe.
The past 24 hours:
At 10:10 p.m. local time, approximately 500 protesters were gathered in the vicinity of the federal courthouse. No significant activity to report.
By around midnight local time, crowd size around the courthouse peaked for the night at approximately 1200 protesters.
At around 12:40 a.m. local time, two individuals jumped over the fence surrounding the Hatfield Courthouse. They immediately jumped back outside the fence perimeter.
By 1:00 a.m. local time, crowd size near the courthouse had decreased to approximately 500-600 people.
At around 1:08 a.m. local time, stacks of papers and plywood were set on fire outside the courthouse fence but in the vicinity of the Hatfield Courthouse. OSP engaged the group setting the fire. Rioters threw objects at FPS personnel as they responded to extinguish the fire. No use of force or injuries were reported.
Rioters broke two windows at the Edith Green federal building but disappeared before FPS could respond.
DHS officers conducted zero arrests.
Neither federal officers or OSP reported any use of force or any injuries to officers.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this readout said that USMS conducted one arrest during the evening in connection with a fire near the courthouse. Updated information from DOJ indicated that the arrest was unrelated.
Keywords: Federal Protective Service (FPS), Homeland Security, Targeted Violence
Topics: Secretary of Homeland Security
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Published in Executive Departments and Homeland Security
