Mark Graves | Oregonian/OregonLive

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In just a few seconds Saturday, what could have been one of Portland's quieter protests in recent months erupted.

Right- and left-wing groups in downtown hollered insults across a wide street one minute as riot cops kept the rivals at bay. The next, police turned on anti-fascist counter-protesters and fired up their crowd-control weapons.

What happened in that instant remains a point of dispute between the police and those who came under fire. Yet it once again thrust this city racked by riots and violent demonstrations during the Trump era into the national spotlight.

After hours of relative calm, the police response escalated when officers ordered those protesting the right-wing group Patriot Prayer near Southwest Naito Parkway and Columbia Street to disperse.

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Mark Graves | Oregonian/OregonLive

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When demonstrators didn't immediately leave, riot police fired dozens of flash-bang grenades and other crowd-control munitions, such as pepper spray and rubber bullets.

At least three people struck by these weapons, described as non-lethal, were hospitalized. One of them suffered a traumatic brain injury, another third-degree chemical burns to her arm.

A handful of other people reported less severe wounds.

Police have said protesters had thrown a "chemical agent" and other objects at officers. Chief Danielle Outlaw this week said police didn't give orders for protesters to disperse or officers to use crowd-control munitions until after things were thrown at police.

Multiple counter-protesters and reporters, including those from Oregonian/OregonLive, didn't see that.

In the days since, our publication has reviewed hours of video footage from Saturday, with a focus on the build-up to its most contentious moment.

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Mark Graves | Oregonian/OregonLive

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While no single video clip can provide a complete picture of the sprawling and chaotic scene, some offer a clearer, closer look.

None appears to show projectiles thrown by counter-protesters prior to the use of riot control weapons by police. Two of them, in fact, appear to show both officers and counter-protesters relatively calm in the seconds leading up to the first shots.

As of Thursday, Aug. 9, the police bureau has not released any video or visual documentation that supports its description of events.

The bureau “continues to review video and officers’ reports that document the day’s events,” said Sgt. Chris Burley, a Portland police spokesman, in an email.

If you are aware of other video footage, we’d like to see it.

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Source: Very Fake News, a conservative outlet that Livestreams protests and other events

Location: Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Relevance: Though shot from a distance, the video provides clear audio of Portland police using a loudspeaker to instruct counter-protesters on Southwest Columbia Street to move west and away from Naito Parkway. Over the course of two minutes, police warn demonstrators they may be arrested or subjected "to the use of riot control agents or impact weapons," though no specific reason for the order is cited. A minute after the final warning, the first flash-bang grenade can be heard detonating.

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It looked to me like the police attacked only to get to squad cars they left unattended. I saw nothing thrown before the police attack and their calm demeanor suggests they hadn't witnessed anything thrown their way either.



Full coverage coming later tonight. pic.twitter.com/c9mObmOawz — Daniel V. Media (@danielvmedia) August 7, 2018

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Source: Daniel V., a freelance photojournalist based in Portland

Location: The middle of Southwest Columbia Street, directly facing riot police to the east.

Relevance: Captures riot police on the front line calmly standing around before officers fire the first flash-bang grenades into the crowd. An officer there appears to realize that police cruisers have been left behind the counter-protest line. "Is that a police car out in that crowd?" he asks. "That's two, that's two," another officer says. Several seconds later, an officer can be heard speaking with the crowd. "Hey, if you guys don't move you're going to get hit," he tells people on the front lines. "I'm just letting you know — gotta go that way. I'm just letting you know, you're going to get hit." In the video, nothing appears to be thrown at the officers until after they fire on counter-protestors.

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Video shows when @PortlandPolice unloaded munitions, apparently unprovoked, into the anti-racist protest march yesterday while they were protecting #PatriotPrayer and #ProudBoys.

In order of shots fired, shooters were Officers Flippo & Caler #AllOutPDXhttps://t.co/E1raAbOi60 pic.twitter.com/L0C3Jw5HGF — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) August 5, 2018

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Source: Unicorn Riot, an independent media collective

Location: The south corner of Southwest Columbia Street where it meets Naito Parkway

Relevance: Shows a pair of officers on the east side of Naito load flash-bang grenades into their launchers, take aim and fire on the crowd across the street.

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Unedited video of the moment when @PortlandPolice let out the first flash bang and began trying to break up today's protest #defendpdx #AllOutPDX #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/sC1OAVD7PZ — Ric Peavyhouse (@RPeavyhouse) August 5, 2018

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Source: Ric Peavyhouse, KATU News videographer

Location: The south corner of Southwest Columbia Street where it meets Naito Parkway

Relevance: Shot from a wide angle, the video shows riot police standing in front of counter-protesters. Neither side appears agitated or confrontational. Projectiles thrown by counter-protesters appear only after the first flash-bang grenade detonates in the crowd.

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8/4/18 - Patriot Prayer - police rush protesters, set off explosions, hit people from Doug Brown on Vimeo.

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Source: Doug Brown, ACLU of Oregon

Location: The south corner of Southwest Columbia Street where it joins Naito Parkway

Relevance: Provides a slightly different angle of police moving in on the crowd after they fire flash-bang grenades and begin to use other non-lethal munitions on counter-protesters.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh