Portland Police Detain at Least 100 Protesters

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police detained a crowd of at least 100 protesters Friday night at a demonstration, halting the march minutes after it started, according to a report from the Oregonian/Oregonlive.com.

The mass detainment shortly after 9 p.m in the Pearl District appeared to an example of kettling, a police tactic of surrounding a crowd and containing people within a perimeter, the newspaper reported.

In a tweet and at the scene, police said they were detaining everyone within the boundary for the “investigation of a crime.”

“You are not free to leave. You must stay where you are and comply with officers’ lawful orders,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a tweet.

City and ⁦@PortlandPolice⁩ resumed ‘kettling’ tonight after these decisions in fed court - Jan story: Judges dismiss or recommend throwing out 2 civil suits that challenged Portland police ‘kettling’ tactic https://t.co/iPYsW2jXa8

— Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) March 13, 2021

The mayor says the “ongoing criminal vandalism must stop” but local business owners say the city isn’t doing enough to stop the destruction: https://t.co/qIlbnNWzS0

— Liz Burch (@LizBurchTV) March 13, 2021

Adam Costello, a livestream videographer, told the newspaper that two windows were broken during the early stages of the demonstration. Costello said that may have prompted police to set up the perimeter.

Mass arrest and kettle happening now in Portland OR
I’m on the inside of the kettle unfortunately pic.twitter.com/QsbIVNeEXs

— Grace Morgan (@gravemorgan) March 13, 2021

In January, a group of protesters carrying signs against President Joe Biden and police marched in Portland on Inauguration Day and damaged the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon, police said.

To the group: The street is open to vehicular traffic. Move out of the street and to the sidewalks. Failure to do so may subject you to arrest, citation, or the use of force including, but not limited to, crowd control munitions and/or impact weapons.

— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) March 13, 2021

Portland has been the site of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators, ever since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.

Mayor Ted Wheeler has decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability and should be subject to more severe punishment.

DA: Portland protest suspect caused damage in Wells Fargo Center, punched officer in the head. https://t.co/bekAKCyJ0s pic.twitter.com/5CEz96GzAd

— Fox12Oregon (@fox12oregon) March 12, 2021

DA: Portland protest suspect caused damage in Wells Fargo Center, punched officer in the head. https://t.co/bekAKCyJ0s pic.twitter.com/5CEz96GzAd

— Fox12Oregon (@fox12oregon) March 12, 2021