Protesters have garnered national attention after setting fire to the Portland Police Association building on Saturday night.
Portland police said around 10:45 a.m., protesters broke into the PPA building and almost immediately started a fire.
The building on North Lombard Street is still covered in graffiti, and the remnants of the blazing fire Saturday night are still scattered inside.
Ash Leabenworth lives a few houses from the PPA and said that while it is terrifying to see this happening on his street, he says that dramatic steps must be taken to make the change happen.
“We heard screaming and after a while we heard a big Big Bang that we realized was that the dumpster was on fire in the middle of Lombard,” Leabenworth said.
He said he has lived on North Campbell Street for eight years and that until a few weeks ago it was a quiet area.
“Especially last night when the union caught fire, which is why we felt so scared by our neighbors at the time. As much as we support the protests, it has been a journey to have police here with their LRAD systems and blow up neighborhood acoustics, ”said Leabenworth.
After seeing what is happening in Portland, Leabenworth said he understands why the protesters are angry.
“Apparently, the federal units that have been sent to Portland are taking people off the street and it is understandable that they are upset,” he said. “I think honestly the only thing that causes the change is to show up and do something dramatic.”
The PPA held a press conference on Sunday afternoon to discuss what happened. President Daryl Turner said the violence must end.
“This is no longer about George Floyd; It is no longer about racial equity or social justice. It is not about reform, or the evolution of the police. This is about violence, riot destruction, ”said Turner.
Several speakers joined Turner on the podium to call for an end to the violence. Pastor JW Matt Hennessee of Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church said we should all work to listen to each other.
“We want to work with you and we ask for a moratorium, literally a moratorium on the streets to give us a chance to hear it. We want you to know that we listen to you. We understand there are issues you want to talk about, ”said Hennessee.
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