Rioters throw Molotov cocktails at police in Portland amid nationwide protests over Breonna Taylor case - Updates

RT
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:01 UTC

© Ruptly

As expected, protests erupted in the US following the ruling in the Breonna Taylor case, with Portland agitators setting fire to the police precinct and bombarding officers with stones and Molotov cocktails.

Just hours after it was announced that Louisville officers would not face charges for the killing in March of 26-year-old emergency room technician Breonna Taylor during an alleged no-knock warrant incident, downtown Portland was once again flooded with protesters.

Portland police declared protests an unlawful gathering shortly before 10pm local time as violence broke out roughly a half mile from the city's infamous federal courthouse, which has been a major flashpoint in civil unrest in Portland for months.

Protesters bombarded a downtown precinct with fire and rocks, with the awning of the police precinct catching on fire.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at responding officers as they attempted to put out the fire and secure the area.

Police and federal agents exchanged smoke and tear grenades and other non-lethal munitions with several agitators among the crowds of protesters, some of whom responded by throwing fireworks and other missiles.

Comment: More violence, childish tantrums, and rioting from around the country:

Black Los Angeles cop harassed with slurs by protesters in 'demon masks'

Video has surfaced of masked protesters taunting a black Los Angeles police officer with slurs and obscenities. Unrest flared as no charges were filed against two officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville.

As protests raged in cities across America following a grand jury's decision not to charge any of the officers with her murder, a group of masked demonstrators in Los Angeles surrounded a police officer and began taunting him with obscenities, according to a video posted to social media in the early hours of Thursday morning.

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

The officer remains composed as his assailants stick their smartphone-bearing hands in his face.

Another video from the same night showed a larger group of protesters, similarly clad in horror-movie masks, shouting abuse at cops as they pulled on the barricades the officers had erected to protect their headquarters.

Taunting cops has become something of a pastime for agitator elements amid the protests that have raged on and off since the May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. A Sacramento officer was similarly harassed back in June, also remaining calm as his assailants blew smoke in his face and aimed a laser pointer at his eyes.

Hundreds turned out in Los Angeles to demonstrate against the ruling on Taylor's killing. The black EMT was shot while in bed in her Louisville apartment in what was supposed to be a drug raid - even though the dealer the officers were seeking was already in prison and lived miles away. Two of the officers responsible were not charged at all, while one was charged with wanton endangerment for firing into a neighbor's home.

Two LAPD officers were shot in an apparent ambush earlier this month as nightly protests raged. Some protesters turned out to block the hospital entrance as ambulances attempted to transfer the wounded cops to surgery, shouting "We hope they die" and "Death to the police."

'Knock your old-**s boyfriend out!' BLM protesters take over elderly couple's table at Florida restaurant

Angry racial justice activists were filmed threatening an elderly couple as they took over their table at an outdoor restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida. The incident happened amid the protests over Breonna Taylor charges.

The video circulating on social media shows dozens of protesters carrying "No justice, no peace" signs and chanting "Stand up, fight back!" outside a restaurant. At one point, an activist comes up and sits on an empty seat at a table occupied by an elderly couple.

The woman says "This is my table" while trying to remove the activist from the seat but fails to do so. More activists then approach the table. One of them calls the woman "Karen" threatens to "knock your old-**s boyfriend the f**k out."

Protests erupted in several cities on Wednesday after a grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky revealed the charges in the case about the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. A 26-year-old black woman, Taylor was killed in a March police raid when plainclothes narcotics officers attempted to serve a search warrant at her apartment.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the police had properly introduced themselves before Taylor's boyfriend opened fire on them. One officer was charged with "first degree wanton endangerment," rather than murder, which angered anti-police brutality and racial justice activists.

The protesters smashed storefront windows and started fires in Louisville. Two police officers were shot and wounded amid the chaotic atmosphere in the city. One suspect was taken into custody.

Shocking VIDEO shows Seattle cop riding his bike over man's head amid fresh wave of violent protests

At least 13 people were arrested as Seattle erupted into chaos following the Breonna Taylor case ruling. One officer was filmed pushing a bike over a protester's head, while another cop was struck in the head with a baseball bat.

A huge crowd of protesters gathered near Seattle's federal courthouse on Stewart St. and it wasn't long before the protests turned violent, as people began throwing glass bottles and other objects at police officers. The anger splashed out after Kentucky Attorney-General Daniel Cameron's announcement that the officers involved in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor in March would not be prosecuted for her death.

In one shocking moment, an officer was filmed pushing his bicycle over a prone protester's head.

WARNING: DISTURBING VIDEO

For now, the condition of the victim is not known. In its statement, local police confirmed they are aware of the footage and that the matter "will be referred to the Office of Police Accountability for further investigation."

Meanwhile, security officials claim a protester threw an explosive device near bike officers stationed outside the East Precinct, while also alleging that people cut the wires to security cameras in the area.

Eyewitness video from the scene purports to show an officer being struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat, cracking his helmet.

"In total, officers arrested 13 individuals for charges ranging from property destruction, resisting arrest and failure to disperse as well as assault on an officer," the police statement said, confirming that multiple officers were injured in the unrest.

Suspect in Louisville cop shooting facing assault charges as officers ID'd, 127 arrested

The suspect accused of shooting two Louisville police officers during Breonna Taylor demonstrations Wednesday night faces assault and wanton endangerment charges, authorities revealed Thursday, as they announced one officer was released from the hospital, and the second is out of surgery and expected to recover.

Larynzo Johnson, 26, was charged with two counts of assault in the first degree and 14 counts of wanton endangerment in connection with the shooting of police officers, Louisville Metro Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said at a press conference Thursday. The investigation is ongoing. He expected to be arraigned Friday.

LMPD Major Aubrey Gregory, who is White, was treated and released from University Hospital with a leg wound after being shot beneath his hip. Officer Robinson Desroches, who is Black, was struck in the abdomen is in stable condition after undergoing significant surgery and is expected to recover. LMPD also released two photos of the officers wounded.

Schroeder said police made 127 "protest-related" arrests across the city including in the Highland and downtown overnight amid the demonstrations following the grand jury decision to charge only one officer in connection to the police operation that killed Taylor, but not her death. There were also at least 16 instances of looting across the city.

[...]

Johnson "intentionally used a handgun to fire multiple bullets at officers" addressing the crowd, the complaint said. Two officers were struck by bullets causing serious physical injury. Police said witnesses spotted Johnson firing a handgun at officers and running from the scene. The complaint said he was also in possession of a handgun at the time of his arrest and law enforcement recovered video of the shooting showing the suspect fire at officers.

[...]

And then there's this doozie: Anarchists unpack U-Haul truck filled with riot gear in Louisville after Breonna Taylor verdict:

In the moments following the announcement today in Louisville that only one of the officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in March would face criminal charges, rioters and demonstrators began to take up their positions.

Antifa and BLM protestors could be seen unloading shields, riot gear and signs from the back of a U-Haul. Many were dressed all in black bloc as they clamored around to get the gear.

"Shields, we got shields!" A voice yelled as people ran to the truck.

Protestors with shields blocked Louisville police cars in the streets, standing in front of the cars and refusing to move.

Democrat lawmakers have claimed both that Antifa doesn't exist and that there are no highly organized efforts to facilitate street violence in America. In this clip, captured by Daily Caller's Shelby Talcott, the high level of organization of this supposedly non-existent group is clearly visible.

The shields taken from the U-Haul were then used on the front lines of a protest march. This confirms that the street actions taking place in America are not as the media has portrayed, spontaneous acts of protest but in fact, well-funded and organized actions.

Riots were expected in Louisville today, as the National Guard was called in, police were put in readiness for a state of emergency, and Mayor Greg Fischer implemented a curfew. None of that put a stop to the beginning of the street protests in the city.

As demonstrations surged in Louisville, a man defending his business was surrounded as agitators screamed and tried to smash his windows.

[...]