Portland Police Charge at Protesters, Push Them to the Ground in Video

Hundreds of protesters went head-to-head with police in Portland on Monday night, as a riot was declared as violence erupted at a vigil in memory of a 20-year-old Black man who died after being shot by a police officer in Minnesota on Sunday.

Social media videos show police clashing with protesters, including one video where several officers charge at demonstrators. In the clip, an officer appears to push a man down and drag him on the ground before kicking a smoke canister at him.

The event started at Laurelhurst Park in South East Portland, where a group of protesters met at a vigil for Daunte Wright.

At around 10.30 p.m. on Monday, a riot was declared by Portland Police at the Penumbra Kelly building in the East Burnside after protesters broke windows, threw rocks at police, and lit a dumpster on fire. The building houses the Multnomah County Sheriff and Portland Police.

Around 200 anti-racism protesters gathered outside the sheriff's office on Monday night, calling for the abolishment of police, according to the New York Times.

When protesters arrived outside, officers came out and some demonstrators threw fireworks toward them, one of the paper's journalists said on Twitter. Protesters, who ignited a dumpster outside the building, were chanting "Every city, every town, burn the precincts to the ground," he added.

In a statement, Portland Police said: "A crowd of about 200 have gathered near the Kelly Penumbra building. Projectiles including bottles, rocks and large fireworks have been thrown at police. Windows have been broken.

"Multiple warnings have been provided to the crowd regarding force or munitions being used if the criminal behavior does not cease. Fires have been lit. Traffic is impacted in both directions on East Burnside Street near 47 Ave."

Newsweek has contacted Portland Police for further comment.

The violence erupted at a vigil organized for Wright, who was shot by police in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis, on Sunday afternoon at around 1:50 p.m. after being pulled over for a traffic stop. He then re-entered his car and drove a short distance before crashing the vehicle several blocks away.

The news of Wright's death came against the backdrop of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis last May. Chauvin was caught on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, actions Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said "absolutely" violated the department's policies during an arrest.

The killing sent shockwaves around the world, and triggered global Black Lives Protests, rallying against institutional police racism and brutality.

A 64 percent majority of Americans approve of the murder charges that prosecutors filed against Chauvin, with most agreeing that he should be convicted of murdering Floyd, according to a poll released on April 9.

Portland saw over 100 nights of unrest after Floyd was killed on 23 May last year. Demonstrators are taking a stand against police brutality, racial inequity and have called for the defunding of law enforcement.