Portland Police: Group of 40 marchers vandalizes downtown
Portland Police Bureau officers are investigating reports of criminal mischief after a number of government buildings and private businesses were vandalized in downtown Portland.
Authorities say about 40 people gathered Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Director Park at around 7 p.m., thereafter marching east on Southwest Third Avenue, south on Jefferson Street, before returning west to the South Park Blocks and dispersing near their starting point.
"During the march, participants broke windows, spray painted buildings, fired paintballs, and caused other damage," according to a news release. "Officers attempted to contact one subject and their police vehicle was spray painted as well."
Around 5:30 p.m. that same day, organizers of the "Portland Antifa Football Club" organized several soccer matches at Duniway Field, which is located about a mile away from Director Park. The link between the two events is unclear.
The sporting event had a clear left-wing bent — with matches pitting the Long Legged Socialists against No Justice No Cleats — with more than 50 people in the sidelines, according to social media reports.
I’m at Duniway Park in SW Portland for the first soccer match of newly established Antifa league.
— Andy Ngo is a neo-Nazi sympathizer (@it_aint_pretty_) December 31, 2020
There is a good size crowd, maybe 50 people on the sidelines#PortlandProtests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cj8hrWHdut
No arrests were made during the downtown vandalism incident, but police say they continue to gather evidence of criminal mischief. Slogans such as "eat the rich" and "1312" — an anti-police code — were found painted on a variety of structures.
The vandalism impacted buildings and property owned by the Oregon Historical Society, Portland Police Bureau, TriMet, Pac West Center, Starbucks Coffee on Southwest Third, Directors Park, The University Club, The Old Courthouse, Fogo De Chao restaurant, City Hall and First Republic Bank.
Zane Sparling
Reporter
971-204-7865
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow me on Twitter
You count on us to stay informed and we depend on you to fund our efforts. Quality local journalism takes time and money. Please support us to protect the future of community journalism.
