Portland protesters burn an American flag hanging outside the Justice Center and replace it with Black Lives Matter sign
PORTLAND protesters have burned an American flag hanging outside the Justice Center and replaced it with a Black Lives Matter sign.
An American flag – hung outside the Multnomah County Justice Center in Portland, Oregon – was burned by demonstrators at around midnight on Saturday night.
It marked the 30th consecutive day of anti-racism protests in the city, following the aftermath of George Floyd’s controversial May 25 death.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after a Minneapolis cop was seen in video kneeling on his neck.
His death has sparked protests against police brutality across the country, many of which have adopted his final words “I can’t breath” for their cause.
Saturday night’s demonstration was led by Rose City Justice – a Black-led organization “committed to unifying local activism efforts.”
Video footage of the protest appeared to show an American flag burning on the ground with people appearing to stand in a circle watching on.
“This is the most American thing you can do. This is your First Amendment,” said a man, speaking on what sounds to be a megaphone.
Lighter fluid and what seems to be some sort of spray can was used by protesters passing by to further light the already burning flag.
As the flag burned, protesters were chanting “no KKK, no fascist USA.”
A cardboard sign, reading Black Lives Matter, was later raised up in it the flag’s place.
The rest of the video appears to look like a war zone as protesters argued and authorities declared the gathering as “an unlawful assembly.”
According to a Portland Police Bureau press release, eight arrests were made over the weekend, however, specific details have not yet been revealed.
The police department explained: “Just prior to 10.30 pm, an unlawful assembly was declared. Warning were again provided by sound truck and social media and a dispersal order was given, including notice that arrests, force, or crowd control munitions may be used.The crowd remained in the area.
“Officers responded to the intersection and made efforts to move the crowd away from the barricades so they could be cleared and the street could re-open.
“During this engagement, officers had rocks, glass bottles, and paint thrown at them. Lasers and lights were directed at the officer’s eyes. Crowd control munitions were used during this interaction, but not CS gas.”
The flag burning comes a few days after George Floyd’s one-month anniversary of his Minneapolis death – where he died in police custody.
According to Oregon Live, hundreds of protesters surrounded the Portland Police Department’s North Precinct and attempted to “burn the building down” on Thursday, the anniversary of Floyd’s death.
“North Portland looks like a war zone right now,” Andy Ngô, a journalist for The Post Millennial, wrote to Twitter on Friday.
“Antifa militants tried to establish an autonomous zone outside the @PortlandPolice North Precinct. They then started fires in the street.”
Meanwhile, approximately 175 miles north of Portland, protesters in Seattle have been taking over the surrounding areas of a shuttered Seattle police precinct.
Several streets remain blocked off in an area known as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone.
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Last week, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced cops would finally return to CHOP, the city’s occupied zone, after two shootings.
On Monday, June 22, Durkan said she was hoping people would “voluntarily” vacate the ceded territory surrounding Cal Anderson Park, after a weekend of violence.
President Donald Trump insisted that there needed to be an end to the CHOP zone, tweeting: “There will never be an “Autonomous Zone” in Washington, D.C., as long as I’m your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!”
The comments came after two shootings in the “cop free” zone known as Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) over the weekend – leaving one teenager dead and another victim in critical condition.