Portland police label protesters 'rioting crowd', Angry Internet claims this is 'exactly what Trump wanted'
PORTLAND, OREGON: The peaceful protest at North Portland took a violent turn after the union office was set on fire by the protestors, according to the official tweets by Portland Police. The PNW Youth Liberation Front is an organized group that has been demonstrating protests for the last two months demanding “abolition of the Portland Bureau and decry violence against people of color” according to reports.
Only a while ago, the Portland Police took to their official Twitter handle to share a series of tweets, keeping the public posted about the happenings outside the office. The first tweet read, “People gathering around North Precinct are interfering with the operations of a police facility. Vacate the precinct's parking lot and move back to NE MLK Blvd. Failure to follow this direction may subject you to arrest, citation, or use of force including crowd control munitions”
In the following tweet, the department stated that “a large crowd” had gathered in downtown Portland. “People are removing fencing and using it to barricade doors at the Justice Center and Federal Courthouse. Some others tried to persuade them to stop but were shouted down.” it further read.
An hour later, another tweet stating, “People lit the dumpsters in the street on fire” was shared. Portland Police even issued a warning saying should there be any criminal activity within the group or if someone is found trying to set fire or breach and enter the PPA office, they would be subjected to “arrest or use of force to include crowd control munitions. Move to the east now.” When the situation was beyond the control of the cops, through another tweet Portland Police declared the protests to be a “riot”.
The people who were allegedly setting fire were called “rioting crowd” by the Portland Police Police as they informed the public that the fire was out in the PPA office. However, many Twitter users have responded to the latest turn of events as an “act” by the cops. A few have claimed in their Tweets that the fire was started by the cops.
While one wrote, “Hey guys Portland Police Association put out the fire they themselves started. Pats on back. Here's the playbook.1) People protesting peacefully. 2)Portland Police Association lit on fire by police @PortlandPolice 3) police blame protestors 4) police say their use for DEADLY force justified because of the PPA fire”
Another added, “the portland police association started the fire, antifa is not an organization, the birther-in-chief planted the set-up, don't be dumbfounded.”
One tweeted, “This is a completely proper response to a fully enabled secret police force.... though I can’t help this is exactly what Trump wanted. The movement is simmering”