Police use pepper spray during Portland protest

AP

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Several hundred people marched in Northeast Portland in a protest rally that led to a clash with police who used pepper spray.

The Oregonian reports that Saturday afternoon's protest by a coalition of groups that grew out of last year's Occupy Portland movement was mostly peaceful.

But police say they responded with pepper spray after a few of the demonstrators used wooden shields to confront officers.

Authorities did not say how many people were sprayed, but one person was arrested. The Oregonian reported at least 20 were sprayed, but there was no word of any injuries.

Police say organizers did not have a permit and did not respond to requests to discuss the march, which organizers say was planned as an election message against funding cuts to social and public services.

Protest spokesman Nicholas Caleb says no one at the organization received prior communication about the need for a permit.