Portland Police Shutter Anti-Trump Demonstration, Make Arrests After Protesters Throw Bricks

Thousands of demonstrators and counter protesters converged in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, a day marked by multiple arrests and clashes between police and protesters.

A pro-President Donald Trump free speech rally drew several hundred to a plaza near City Hall.

That rally was met across the street by hundreds of counter-protesters organized by immigrant rights, religious and labor groups. They said they wanted to make a stand against hate and racism.

Huge Antifa presence in Portland. pic.twitter.com/YL4Q4h7BZ5 — Brittany Pettibone (@BrittPettibone) June 4, 2017

Portland police said Sunday evening that 14 people were arrested, and several dozen knives, bricks, sticks and other weapons were seized.

By late afternoon, police closed nearby Chapman Square where a separate group of protesters – many wearing masks and black clothing and identified as anti-fascists – also demonstrated. Police used flash-bang grenades and pepper balls to disperse that crowd after saying protesters were hurling bricks and other objects at officers.

Things are heating up with Antifa in #Portland. pic.twitter.com/qZcMyYzHpw — Brittany Pettibone (@BrittPettibone) June 4, 2017

The people gathered at the free speech rally organized by the conservative group Patriot Prayer and counter-protesters at City Hall were not involved in those clashes, police said.

Read the rest here.