PORTLAND, Ore. -- Thousands of people descended on downtown Portland Friday afternoon and evening to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump.
By the end of the night, five people were arrested for second-degree disorderly conduct.
- 21-year-old Nicholas Martin Johnson
- 30-year-old Rosemary Vera Tustin
- 45-year-old Craig Allen Hasty
- 18-year-old Travis Allen Martin
- 41-year-old Ray McGaugh
Johnson, Tustin, Hasty and Martin were booked into the Multnomah County Jail. McGaugh was issued a citation and not booked in jail, police said.
Another person was arrested at the rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square but he was arrested for his actions during last November's post-election riots.
The #J20PDX protest began at about 2 p.m. at Pioneer Square. The crowd began marching at 5 p.m. The protest was largely peaceful until marchers tried to cross bridges. It ended just after 9 p.m. after police deployed riot control agents, including tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.
Police said most of the protesters were peaceful but there were some who took aggressive actions towards law enforcement.
At its peak, the crowd was estimated to be as big as 10,000 people.
Recap
At 9 p.m., downtown Portland was largely clear of protesters, save for a few remaining people who refused to leave. The march organizer officially ended the march at 8 p.m.
Just before 8:40 p.m., police released tear gas, causing the crowd to quickly disperse from Southwest 6th Avenue and Yamhill Street. It was the first time tear gas was used during the protest.
One man reported he was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet. Another said he was hit by a gas canister.
Man says he was hit by gas canister deployed by police during protest pic.twitter.com/Rc5m51Y8Ft
— Kyle Iboshi (@KyleIboshi) January 21, 2017
At 8:30 p.m., police used pepper spray on some protesters who did not disperse and deployed flash-bangs. KGW reporter Mike Benner reported that fireworks were thrown at officers. Police said rocks, bottles, flares and unknown liquid was being thrown at officers.
Police used flash bangs and pepper spray to clear intersection at Yamhill & 6th pic.twitter.com/KfyDWzAMFj
— Kyle Iboshi (@KyleIboshi) January 21, 2017
At 8 p.m., police said they were shutting down Pioneer Square and the ordered everyone to disperse or risk being arrested.
The event organizers said the event was over. People were still gathered in downtown Portland and at the Square.
Our event is over. Thank Unfortunately, the city decided to use gas, flash grenades and violence against peaceful protestors.
— #PDXResistance ✊#J20 (@Pdx_resistance) January 21, 2017
At 7:50 p.m., police said they would use crowd control agents at the "unlawful assembly" remaining at SW Broadway and Taylor Street. Police reported that protesters were armed with clubs, sticks and throwing unknown liquid at officers.
Police are putting on gas masks pic.twitter.com/fbCCzqLmNo
— Kyle Iboshi (@KyleIboshi) January 21, 2017
At 7:30 p.m., protest leader Gregory McKelvey told protesters to meet at Pioneer Square.
MAX trains resumed normal service but TriMet said riders should "expect major delays."
At 7:10 p.m., police ordered people to leave the area of Southwest Broadway Avenue and Taylor Street within a three block radius or else they would be subject to force and arrest. Some protesters left, but most remained.
Just after 7 p.m., protesters and police faced off at Broadway Avenue and Taylor Street. Some protesters sat down on the street in front of police.
Trump supporters confronted protesters just before 7 p.m.
Protesters confront Trump supporters pic.twitter.com/yqyw27xkHM
— Kyle Iboshi (@KyleIboshi) January 21, 2017
Police told protesters Waterfront Park was closed and if they don't leave, they'll be arrested. They threatened to shoot protesters with "impact weapons and other riot control agents."
Police advising marchers Waterfront Park is closed. If they do not leave, they are subject to arrest. #J20PDX
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 21, 2017
At 6:30 p.m., police blocked protesters as they attempted to march onto the Hawthorne Bridge.
As protesters attempt to walk onto multiple bridges in Portland, Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson told KGW, "They've gone beyond the free speech part of this event."
"For those down there who are peaceful protesters they might want to think about leaving, because the peaceful part is leaving the building," he said.
Just after 6 p.m., protesters attempted to cross the Burnside Bridge. Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Protesters also approached the entrance to the Steel Bridge at 6 p.m. Police blocked the entrance to that bridge as well.
Some protesters threw ice balls and eggs at officers, according to police reports.
TriMet detoured and suspended some lines just before 6 p.m. due to the protest.
Prior to trying to cross the Burnside and Steel bridge, protesters tried to cross the Morrison Bridge, where they were blocked by police.
Standoff at SW 2nd & Alder #j20pdx pic.twitter.com/ZPcCLoh4aF
— Mike Benner (@MikeBennerKGW) January 21, 2017
At 5:30 p.m., police said some vandalism was reported at City Hall. Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson said there was spray paint and he didn't know how extensive the damage was.
Graffiti on the Portland building & Courthouse, left in march's wake... pic.twitter.com/kEGXTRJ2ZQ
— Maggie Vespa KGW (@Maggie_Vespa) January 21, 2017
At 5 p.m., protesters began to march, shouting "Not my president" and "Whose streets? Our streets." Protesters surrounded some cars, TriMet buses and a MAX train stuck downtown.
March heading southbound on 6th Avenue. Beaware of traffic and TriMet disruptions if you are going downtown tonight. #J20PDX
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 21, 2017
At 4 p.m., Portland police said they were monitoring a small group of people with makeshift weapons but there had not been any major issues.
At 3 p.m., the square was crowded with protesters carrying anti-Trump signs. Speakers began addressing a crowd of a couple thousand people at about 3:15 p.m.
Speakers addressed issues related to Trump's platform, including climate change, immigration, and civil rights.
While most attendees stood and listened to speakers, some stood around a pile of burning flags.
Round 2 of flag-burning. Someone here just told me "I hope you tell your viewers, most of us don't approve of that." pic.twitter.com/H6lsAZgvK1
— Maggie Vespa KGW (@Maggie_Vespa) January 21, 2017
Thousands of people at Pioneer Courthouse Square for #j20resist #j20pdx protest pic.twitter.com/Dw57iF0jVk
— Mike Benner (@MikeBennerKGW) January 20, 2017
Protesters began gathering at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 2 p.m. and burning American flags at about 2:45 p.m.
Anti-Trump protesters making good on their promise to torch American flags @ Pioneer Square. pic.twitter.com/kakSadM3tM
— Maggie Vespa KGW (@Maggie_Vespa) January 20, 2017
Before protesters gathered, lead organizer of Portland's Resistance, Gregory McKelvey, said he hoped the rally would be "super powerful."
"We’re here today to stand up against President Trump, and we’re going to send a signal that we are going to resist his policies at every angle," he said. "We are going to have a lot of super powerful speakers who are going to be here to speak, and then we're going to march. We plan on marching for a few hours and I hope it's going to be entirely peaceful and that we can do it in a way that the city will be proud."
