Portland Spirals Out of Control as Antifa Besieges City; Portland Police Blame City Officials

Several hundred rioters openly attacked the police and threw "commercial grade" fireworks at law enforcement officers.

Attacking federal property is one thing... but to threaten the lives of law enforcement is a whole other level.

The Western Journal has more details on the violence dominating the streets of Portland:

On Thursday night into Friday morning, a group of far-left rioters attacked Portland police with fireworks.

In addition to more conventional tactics to deal with the problem, the police took an odd tack to deal with it: They went on Twitter and threatened the troublemakers.

“A riot is still declared in the area of the Federal Courthouse and Justice Center,” one tweet stated. “You must leave the area now by moving to the west. Tear gas and other crowd control munitions may be deployed. Leave the area now.”

“There are several people in this crowd starting fires, throwing rocks at officers, pointing lasers at officers, and launching projectiles with slingshots at officers,” a follow-up tweet stated. “Leave the area now or you will be subject to arrest.”

That’ll work, right?

This set the tone for the weekend, particularly given that those committing violence on the street didn’t seem particularly interested in just checking their phones or shouting empty bromides.

Here was a quick rundown on the Portland police Twitter account — in the form of a video warning, because of course that’s what insurgents check before they go out and wreak havoc.

“While many [protests] have been peaceful and non-violent, we continue to experience one group with many participants who engage in nightly violence and destruction directed at police and public safety facilities,” the video relayed.

“In the past week, individuals have deliberately set fires to and near occupied buildings. Individuals have thrown baseball-sized rocks, full aluminum baseball bats and frozen water bottles at officers.

“Projectiles have also been launched at high speeds from sling shot devices, including marbles, blades, rocks and other items. On numerous occasions, commercial-grade fireworks have been directed at police.”

Andy Ngô, an independent journalist who chronicles far-left violence in the Pacific Northwest, took plenty of videos of the violence in Portland over the weekend.

The Portland Police Bureau detailed the events: “Around 12:46 a.m., demonstrators returned to the west side of the federal courthouse. Once again, demonstrators were warned by the sound truck that the riot declaration was still in effect and they needed to leave the area,” police reported in a news release.

“At this time, demonstrators started launching mortars towards the federal courthouse and a fire erupted inside of the building where the glass doors had been broken.

“Because of this immediate life safety issue, officers once again began to disperse the crowd. As they dispersed the crowd, demonstrators continued to throw rocks, cans, and commercial grade fireworks and mortars towards officers. Because of the violent nature of the demonstrators while officers cleared the area, crowd control munitions were used and several arrests were made. As officers began to disengage the crowd at Southwest Main Street and Southwest Broadway Avenue, commercial grade fireworks were once again thrown at officers.”

This is what conservatives and President Trump have been worried about.

When there is a power vacuum, something will attempt to take its place.

In this case, the Portland leaders are instructing police to lay low, creating a power vacuum.

Now, radical Antifa members are dominating the streets, threatening the peace and security of residents who live there.

The violence started prior to the 4th of July holiday, but has spilled into this week as well.

Fortunately, the police in Portland are beginning to speak up against Democratic leaders.

The police union has called on the city officials to "condemn the violence."

According to the New York Post:

Portland’s police union ripped public officials for enabling rioters to destroy the city, as demonstrators once again taunted cops Tuesday night.

In a post titled “This Cannot Continue,” Portland Police Association president Daryl Turner called on elected officials to “stand up and defend Portland.”

“Condemn the violence and the burning, looting, and destruction of property,” Turner said. “Trust and support the decisions made by law enforcement leaders who simply want to keep the residents, business owners, and peaceful protestors safe.”

Black Lives Matter protests have been held in Portland for more than a month following the police-involved death of George Floyd. The demonstrations, however, have frequently turned violent amid clashes between police, protesters and members of the anti-fascist group Antifa.

Looters also ravaged businesses in downtown Portland in late May.

Turner said police have endured verbal and physical abuse for far too long.

“As riots continue, it is obvious to everyone that this is no longer about George Floyd, social justice, or police reform,” he said. “This is about a group of individuals intent on causing injury, chaos, and destruction by rioting, looting, starting fires, throwing rocks, bottles, mortars, urine, and feces at peaceful protestors, as well as the police.

“These violent criminal acts have gone on for almost 40 days nonstop, while the men and women of the Portland Police Bureau and its partner agencies have shown amazing restraint in the face of the most divisive time this country has seen in modern history.”

Turner’s letter concluded, “Keep Portlanders safe and free from rioting, while honoring their First Amendment rights. Support police leadership. Support officers. Tell those who are intent on burning and looting our great City that they are not welcome here. Put Portland first.”

This November, voters will have a clear choice between a President who supports law enforcement and a candidate who panders to far left radicals.

President Trump has been unapologetic in defending our men and women in blue.

He also loves our military.

Joe Biden, on the other hand, has appeared to take a similar soft-stance as the Democratic mayors where these outbreaks are happening.

Law and order is necessary for a democracy.

It's time to bring peace to our streets again!