Police in Portland, Oregon, have deployed pepper and OC spray as well as “rubber ball distraction devices” to disperse anti-Trump protesters. Photos on social media showed plumes of smoke in the air and vandalized cars and shop windows.
The demonstration against President-Elect Donald Trump has gathered for yet another night in the Pacific Northwest city.
Some 4,000 people started their protest at Pioneer Courthouse Square and moved to northeast Portland, according to The Oregonian daily. Police on Twitter wrote that protesters were preparing “gas and flares” and were “arming themselves with rocks from construction site.”
Police have deployed less lethal munitions such as OC spray and vapor (pepper spray), rubber ball distraction devices, rubber baton rounds.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 11, 2016
The demonstration heavily interrupted traffic in the city as protesters moved across other major roadways, local media reported.
“Crowd throwing projectiles at police. Significant damage to area car lot,” police said.
Portland police called the protest “a riot,” citing its “extensive criminal and dangerous behavior.” At least 19 cars at Toyota of Portland were vandalized, a sales manager told the paper. Later police reported of new cases of vandalism in the city. Photos on social media showed the smashed windows of local shops.
Portland activist Greg McKelvey said Thursday that several human rights groups in the city would be working together under the new name, Portland’s Resistance.
“In order to survive President Trump there needs to be a strong resistance. Our group believes that Portland has an opportunity to become a beacon of light for the rest of the nation,” McKelvey wrote in a press release on Facebook. The group has scooped over 3,000 likes so far.
“After several orders to disperse, police have used less lethal munitions to effect arrests and move the crowd. Officers still taking projectiles,” police tweeted.
Thousands of people have been out in the streets across the US, since Trump won the 2016 presidential race with 290 electoral votes November 8, leaving Hillary Clinton officially behind, although she won the popular vote.
Chanting anti-Trump slogans, such as “not my president” or “we reject president-elect,” people have been occupying streets in cities from California to New York, expressing their displeasure at the presidential race’s outcome.
READ MORE: Trump denounces ‘media-incited’ protesters in angry Twitter post
Following demonstrations, Trump took to Twitter on Thursday, lashing out at “professional” protesters, who have been rallying against his election since Wednesday.
“Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!” Trump wrote in a tweet.
Via RT. This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.