PORTLAND, Ore. — Two groups of people vandalized dozens of buildings in different parts of Portland Friday night, according to police.
One group of nearly 30 people, dressed in all black, gathered outside the Mexican consulate in downtown, where they spray-painted the building, Portland police said.
The group then headed to the new Multnomah County Courthouse on Southwest 1st Avenue and spray-painted the building. Officers arrived and the group dispersed. No arrests were made.
Another group, which police said was about 100 people, gathered in Northeast Portland. Businesses were vandalized along Northeast Sandy Boulevard near 43rd Avenue.
On Saturday morning, police said 27 businesses or work spaces along Northeast Sandy Boulevard were damaged. They provided a list of the businesses that were vandalized:
- Theater, 4100 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Restaurant, 4100 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Discount Store, 4200 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Financial office, 4300 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Labor & staffing company, 4600 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Apartment building, 4600 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Food cart, 4600 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Restaurant, 4600 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Tire & auto shop, 4500 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Insurance office, 4500 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Paint store, 4400 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Insurance office, 4400 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Dance studio, 4400 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Office building, 4400 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Title company, 4400 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Bank, 4300 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Grocery store, 4300 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Bank, 4200 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: Graffiti and broken glass
- Restaurant, 4200 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Nail spa, 4100 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Pharmacy, 1800 block of NE 41st Ave, Damage: graffiti and broken glass
- Bar, 4000 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Smoke shop, 4000 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Vintage clothing store, 4000 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
- Three unoccupied business spaces, 4000 block of NE Sandy Blvd, Damage: graffiti
Mayor Ted Wheeler released a statement Saturday afternoon calling the people responsible "criminals" and "an affront to the community."
“The people who engaged in criminal destruction are an affront to our community. They are working in direct opposition to the needs of the people they say they speak for," Wheeler said. "They are criminals. They are being played by political forces who are set on preserving the status quo or worse. There is no excuse for the criminal destruction to 24 businesses along NE Sandy Boulevard. The Mexican Consulate and Multnomah County Courthouse were also targeted by violent groups. None of this should sit well with any thinking Portlander. To those participating in violence, I want to be clear: I denounce your actions. Law enforcement will do everything possible to find you and hold you accountable. We all agree racial justice is past due, but I absolutely denounce the violence and criminal destruction.”
Portland police are investigating. The bureau said the group had left by the time officers arrived at the scene and no arrests had been made.
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell issued a statement on Twitter about the damage. He encouraged anyone with information about who is responsible to email crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.