Rioters were throwing objects at officers, smashing windows and damaging doors of city facilities, including the justice center's front gate, FOX 12 of Oregon reported.
"Due to violent, destructive behavior by a significant part of the crowd, the gathering in downtown Portland is a RIOT. All participants are instructed to proceed away to the WEST," the Portland Police Bureau wrote on Twitter.
Officials told the crowd that failing to disperse could lead to arrest, pepper spray and impact weapons, according to police and FOX 12.
Protesters have taken to the streets across the country to express their disapproval of the Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal. The 18-year-old Illinois resident shot and killed two protesters and wounded another last year during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that followed the police-involved shooting and wounding of Jacob Blake.
His lawyers argued he acted in self-defense and he was found not guilty on all charges, including intentional homicide. He could have spent years behind bars if he had been found guilty.
Earlier Friday, Portland police Chief Chuck Lovell said the bureau would consider asking other law enforcement agencies for help depending on the situation on the ground. He said it "depends on what information we have and what we feel the level of threat is" regarding whether the National Guard would be called in, KOIN-TV in Portland reported.
Comment: This was entirely predictable. Given that the mainstream press refused to accurately report on the circumstances of the trial, continuing to push the narrative of a racist teen deliberately killing 'innocent' protesters (protesters who were actually rioters; and who were actually convicted criminals, one being a serial child rapist), how could we expect anything less than riots when actual justice was carried out?
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