Portland, Ore.:
100 consecutive days of protest. »
PORTLAND, ORE. » Once hailed as one of the most livable U. S. cities, Portland, Oregon, is grappling with an uncertain future as it reaches a stunning benchmark: 100 consecutive nights of racial injustice protests marred by vandalism, chaos — and the killing of a supporter of President Donald Trump.
The demonstrations that started in late May after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have divided residents and embarrassed the city’s beleaguered Democratic mayor.
They have also transformed Oregon’s largest city into a centerpiece of Trump’s “law and order” re- election campaign theme, even as activists slam the police for aggressive tactics.
Amid the turbulence, Portland now finds itself as a proxy for the culture wars sweeping the nation.
The exact date of the 100- day milestone depends on how the protests are counted, but everyone agrees the benchmark falls over the Labor Day weekend. Black Lives Matter protests, vigils and speeches marking the occasion are planned over three days and Trump supporters are planning another caravan rally.
The events come after officials in suburban counties refused a call from Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, for their deputies to assist Portland police.
“The worst- case scenario is that there’s another incident and it just touches off so much that the city just can’t survive it very well,” said Ron Louie, a former suburban Portland police chief, author of a crisis negotiation book and current Portland State University professor.
And Trump has increased threats to send U. S. agents back to the city, as his administration did in July — when agents brought in to stop attacks on a federal courthouse and other U. S. property only reinvigorated the protesters.
Thousands of demonstrators turned out nightly, with some hurling fireworks, rocks, ball bearings and bottles at the agents. They responded with huge plumes of tear gas, rubber bullets and flash- bang grenades that created chaotic, war zone- like scenes.
Those clashes ended July 31, when state police took over from U. S. agents under a deal brokered by Brown and the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. But smaller protests have continued, with groups of 100 to 200 people marching nightly. Clashes are common.
The protesters want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. Some demonstrators are also demanding the resignation of Mayor Ted Wheeler.
Related Suspect in Portland protest killing dies in hail of gunfire.
LACEY, WASH. » A man who said he believed a civil war was coming to America and was suspected of killing a right- wing protester in Portland, Ore., died in a hail of police gunfire in neighboring Washington, officials and witnesses said.
The killing of Michael Forest Reinoehl shook a quiet suburb of Olympia on Thursday evening, with bystanders ducking for cover behind automobiles from dozens of gunshots as four agents serving on a U. S. Marshals Service task force opened fire at Reinoehl.
Reinoehl, 48, was armed with a semi- automatic handgun, but authorities have not determined if he fired any shots, said Lt.
Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department.
A video shot during the immediate aftermath showed a man lying motionless on a street next to a row of mailboxes with law enforcement officers in tactical gear and automatic rifles milling around. After a couple of minutes, one man performed chest compressions on Reinoehl.