PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police made two arrests Thursday night outside the Penumbra Kelly Building after a group gathered and blocked East Burnside Street for several hours.
Police said some in the crowd threw items towards the Kelly Building and others were seeing spray painting the west side of the building.
At 12:25 a.m., a vehicle traveling east on East Burnside drove through the crowd and narrowly missed people in the group, police said. The vehicle was stopped later by officers and the driver was cited. Police did not release the name of the driver or what they were cited with.
Most of the group left by 2 a.m.
Portland police released the following information about the two people arrested Thursday night:
- Devlin Sean O'Neill, 29 — second-degree criminal mischief; second-degree disorderly conduct
- Amanda Lundbom, 37 — interfering with a peace officer; failure to display drivers license
A group gathered Thursday evening at Laurelhurst Park for a direct action march. The Oregonian reported that there were about 200 people in the group. That group said through social media that they are calling for the total abolition of the police force and prison system.
The group marched to the Kelly Building. Upon their arrival at about 9:35 p.m., police warned the crowd that they needed to stay off the property. They said that included press and journalists. Violators would be subject to arrest.
Police said some members of the crowd went onto the property. Others threw items, including rocks and plastic water bottles towards the building. Others spray painted the west side of the building.
At 11:25 p.m., police told the group over loudspeaker to stop throwing items towards the building. Violators would be subject to arrest.
Police also said that some vehicles associated with the group were parked in the street to block traffic. Some didn't have license plates while others had duct tape covering the plates. Police cited several of the vehicles and one was towed.
Portland police said they didn't use any crowd control munitions or tear gas.
Earlier in the evening, a man linked to a fatal shooting in downtown Portland last weekend was killed as officers attempted to arrest him.
Protesters also planned to be outside Mayor Ted Wheeler’s condo for a “happy hour” rally. The mayor met Thursday evening with neighbors after a riot was declared earlier this week outside the building on Northwest 10th Avenue and Glisan Street. Earlier this week, Mayor Wheeler announced he would be moving out of the condo.
"To have the kind of violence and destruction we saw the other night, clearly my presence is a hazard to other people in the community, so I need to find another arrangement and that's what I'm seeking to do," Wheeler said.
This is the 14th week that protesters have been out in Portland’s streets following the killing of George Floyd.
On Wednesday night, Portland police made three arrests as a small crowd of people gathered near the North Precinct and refused to leave the area when told.
That same evening, it was released that President Trump ordered a federal review of ways to defund the city of Portland and other cities he deemed "lawless."
In a five-page memo that was signed on Tuesday, President Trump ordered federal agencies to send reports to the White House on how funds can be redirected elsewhere, away from the cities like Portland, Seattle and New York City.