Portland Police Declare Protests Now Riots After Continued Violence

The Portland protests have been officially declared a riot by the city’s police force. For over two straight months, residents have taken to the city’s streets to protest for the Black Lives Matter movement. Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said the majority of demonstrations have been peaceful. However, there have been multiple incidents of rioting late at night, with government buildings being targeted. 99 shootings also occurred in the month of July, compared to 35 that took place last July. Lovell said these numbers were also accompanied by other increased incidents of violence such as fires, property destruction, and more. The protests have become more peaceful since federal agents agreed to leave. However, the city’s police were forced to declare a riot and made arrests after more fires were set, a police precinct broken into, and a truck accelerated into a crowd of people. It was also believed an explosive device was left outside a precinct. Lovell said he’s “never seen a summer like this” and that violent instigators have taken away from the movement’s message.