13 Images of the Chaos Created by ‘Violent Anarchists’ in Portland
Virginia Allen
A rioter spray-paints the approach to the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, as unrest continued Friday. (Photo: Mason Trinca/Getty Images)
Mobs have defaced Portland, Oregon, with graffiti and carried out violent attacks against federal buildings while baiting law enforcement officers seeking to protect government property.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday released a chronicle of the recent violence, which began at the end of May in Portland and continues this week. “Violent anarchists” are responsible for the majority of the criminal activity, according to DHS.
Two frequent targets for rioters and vandals are the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse and the Multnomah County Justice Center.
On July 1, a mob of “over 200 violent anarchists blocked access to the [courthouse] and proceeded to launch aerial fireworks at federal property,” according to the DHS timeline.
Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a formal statement Thursday: “This siege can end if state and local officials decide to take appropriate action instead of refusing to enforce the law. DHS will not abdicate its solemn duty to protect federal facilities and those within them. Again, I reiterate the department’s offer to assist local and state leaders to bring an end to the violence perpetuated by anarchists.”
But Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, has voiced opposition to federal officers’ stepping in to control the violence.
Wheeler wrote last Tuesday on Twitter: “The best thing they [federal officers] can do is stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether. Our goal is to end these violent demonstrations quickly and safely. And in the meantime, I asked [Wolf] to clean up the graffiti on local federal facilities.”
Here is a collection of photos showing the actions of vandals and rioters in Portland over the past seven weeks.
Federal officers use tear gas and other crowd-dispersal munitions Friday on rioters outside the Multnomah County Justice Center. (Photo: Mason Trinca/Getty Images)Rioters attempt to barricade an entrance to the U.S. District Court building on Friday. (Photo: Mason Trinca/Getty Images)The walls of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse are covered in graffiti Friday. (Photo: Ankur Dholakia/AFP/Getty Images)A demonstrator takes a moment to catch his breath Friday by a wall covered in graffiti. (Photo: Mason Trinca/Getty Images)Fireworks explode near the Justice Center as demonstrators, many supporting Black Lives Matter, gather the night of July 4 and into the morning of July 5. An American flag, taped upside down to a fountain, has the words “BURN ME!” written on it. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Police use tear gas and nonlethal weapons to confront rioters late July 4 and early July 5. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)A federal officer in camouflage stands outside the Justice Center late July 4 or early July 5. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Tear gas, launched by law enforcement, and fireworks, fired by rioters, mix the night of July 4 and early July 5. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Some of those who turned out to demonstrate July 4-5. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)A police officer guards the vandalized Justice Center during the riot May 31. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Armed riot police on watch outside the Justice Center on May 31, six days after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)This car was burned and spray-painted by vandals May 30. (Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
