Police Attacked, Property Damaged in Portland May Day Riot

Police were attacked, a patrol car was vandalized, business windows were shattered and bonfires were set in the streets during a May Day riot Monday in Portland, OR.

Police were attacked, a patrol car was vandalized, business windows were shattered and bonfires were set in the streets during a May Day riot Monday in Portland, OR.

The riot began as a city-permitted march featuring impassioned but peaceful rhetoric, but ninety minutes into the protest, it turned ugly as officers were attacked with rocks and full soda cans, OregonLive.com reports.

Police declared the gathering a riot. Officers used flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowd after they pronounced the march illegal, eventually arresting 25 people.

Police later said items protesters threw or launched at officers also included fireworks, road flares and smoke bombs. Anarchists also threw at least one Molotov cocktail at officers but didn't hit them, a police spokesman said in an email. 

Police said in a news release Monday night that officers deployed "limited" amounts of less-than-lethal munitions during the riot.

About the Author