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The fence has returned, and so have demonstrators. There is already a huge crowd in the parks across from the Justice Center and federal courthouse. Someone is drumming, people are holding signs and milling about. We are expecting mayor Ted Wheeler to show up at 9.
Closer up photos of the fence. Looks like the bolts on the bars connecting the panels have been welded. There are also concrete barriers on the other side. The fence has been absent the past two nights. Some demonstrators knocked it down Sunday.
Crowd moving toward 3rd and Madison (where the mayor is supposed to be). They just started chanting "Fu** Ted Wheeler." This "listening session" should be interesting.
Now it sounds like they& #39;re chanting "George Floyd" and "Breonna Taylor." Drummer keeping the beat going.
Crowd found Wheeler walking over from City Hall. Shouting at him to resign.
They also yelled "Tear gas Teddy" and other taunts as he approached the Justice Center.
Loud crowd. Speaker says this is no longer a protest.
"We are in the middle of a civil war."
"We are in the middle of a civil war."
Demands projected on side of Jusfice Center.
1. Defund PPB by 50% at least and reinvest into the communities. Especially Black community
2. Free all protesters from jail
3. Feds out of Portland now
4. You, Ted Wheeler, need to resign
1. Defund PPB by 50% at least and reinvest into the communities. Especially Black community
2. Free all protesters from jail
3. Feds out of Portland now
4. You, Ted Wheeler, need to resign
Posters/art leaning against courthouse fence. People were walking around with stacks of the "Black Lives Matter" print with the names on it, offering them up to everyone.
This very smart/coordinated person brought stilts. Very helpful for seeing over the crowd.
Speaker said something about reforming the police and crowd immediately started booing and chanting "Abolish the police!" Speaker told crowd to "Shut the fu** up" so we could hear Wheeler answer. They& #39;re still shouting over him so I can& #39;t hear what he is saying.
Speeches still going, but I can see fireworks being launched at courthouse (next block down 3rd).
Speaker addressing the people setting off fireworks, telling people who see them doing that to "whoop their ass. This is supposed to be a peaceful protest."
More fireworks. More condemnation from speakers.
Person sitting on fence, snack van cruising through.
I& #39;ve heard a couple warnings from the feds so far. Can see them about halfway up the building too. Crowd shining lasers.
They pried a door open on the fence.
A few people have gone inside fence. There is a fire burning too.
More fireworks. I& #39;m not sure what is burning in the background but it has been going a long time.
Umbrellas up and spray paint out.
Feds out. Tear gas, flash bangs and pepper balls.
Leafblower vs. tear gas
Crowd cheers after feds appear to retreat.
Rollerblading inside the fence.
I& #39;m livestreaming on KOIN now so tweets will be sporadic.
Feds came out a second time just moments ago. Back inside now.
3rd time out. Gas is super strong tonight.
Big group was over by 4th and Main. I asked one person why and he said the mayor was there. But no one else I asked seemed aware of that.
Lots of fireworks being tossed at building.
Continued fire starting seems to have prompted 4th fed response. Shooting pepper balls at people along fence, but they& #39;re breaking on the metal
Hearing an announcement that PPB has declared riot. Telling people to disperse to North or west. Sw 1st to Broadway and Columbia to harvey milk is closed.
Not many people moving from where I& #39;m standing at Salmon and 3rd.
People seem to be stuffing flammable materials inside traffic cones, lighting them, and taking them closer to courthouse.
Another warning. 6th one. They& #39;ve been coming from all directions.
8th warning. LRAD going block to block. This was on main and 1st.
Nothing from PPB since the last tweet. But feds are peppering fence tamperers.
10th announcement. Warning of teargas and impact weapons. Lots of people still in area.
Tear gassing. People throwing back.
Almost an hour since riot was declared. Still no PPB action as far as i can tell. Feds still shooting pepper balls at fence.
1:30 a.m. at the fed courthouse.
About 90 minutes since riot declaration.
Trying to put a fence on the fence?
Someone threw a molotov cocktail over the fence.
