Oregon state police took over the role of guarding a courthouse in Portland after more than 60 nights of protests that sometimes turned into violent riots and increasingly attacked the federal building.
Intensifying the presence of state and local officials was part of an agreement between the Democratic governor and the Trump administration that aimed to reduce the number of US agents during the riots.
The protests recently turned violent when local authorities attempted to crush the protests that rocked the city every night for more than two months after the murder of George Floyd.
A protester waves a US flag in front of federal officials after tear gas is released during a Black Lives Matter protest at the United States Palace of Justice Mark O. Hatfield on July 30, in Portland, Oregon (AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Portland police cleaned up a park Thursday morning in front of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse that protesters used as a stage, but reopened shortly before dark.
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By 10:30 p.m., hundreds of people had gathered and were listening to speeches in front of the Justice Center, a building one block from the courthouse that houses the city and county police offices. There were no signs of state or local police, and the crowd remained peaceful.
Police said the Thursday night demonstration near the court was less violent, although people sometimes “lit small fires along sidewalks in surrounding blocks and attempted to light fires inside the fence in federal court” .
Under Gov. Kate Brown’s announced deal, federal agents dispatched by President Donald Trump began a phased pullout, with Oregon State Police taking over control outside the building. But federal officials insist that agents remain on hold if needed.
Trump said in a tweet that US officials would remain in Portland until the violence was under control.
“If she can’t do it, the federal government will do it for her. We won’t leave until there is security! Trump wrote about Brown, saying he was not doing enough to control “anarchists and agitators.”
In preparation for the delivery, state police, local sheriff and Portland police met and agreed not to use tear gas, except in cases where there is a danger of serious injury or death, Mayor Ted Wheeler said. Federal agents dispatched to the city in early July have used it every night as protesters threw rocks, fireworks, and other objects.
PORTLAND POLICE DISCOVER SLEDGEHAMMER, TUBE, OTHER GUNS WHILE CLEANING THE PARK OUT OF COURT
Wheeler, who was gassed when he joined protesters outside the courthouse last week, added that tear gas “is not really as effective as a tactic” because protesters have put on gas masks and often return after recovering. The mayor also apologized to peaceful protesters exposed to the tear gas used by the Portland police before federal officials arrived.
Portland has seen protests since Floyd died in May after a White Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to the black man’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Federal officials guard the United States Courthouse Mark O. Hatfield as a fire ignited by protesters burns across a perimeter fence on July 25, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
On occasion, they have attracted up to 10,000 people for peaceful marches and demonstrations around the city.
The Trump administration sent federal agents to monitor the court earlier this month and quell the riots, but the deployment had the opposite effect, revitalizing protesters who found a new rally point to oppose the federal presence.
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The United States government had arrested 94 people as of Wednesday. During the past two months of protests, Lovell said the city police department has made more than 400 arrests and has pursued many different strategies in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
“It has been two long months,” he said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
