One person was shot dead in Portland tonight as tensions between pro-Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter counter-protesters boiled over.
The man was pictured wearing a Patriot Prayer baseball cap, showing allegiance to the far-Right group based in Vancouver, Washington and frequently present during Portland protests.
The Portland protest was one of many Donald Trump’s supporters staged across the country today, with hundreds of people congregating in Los Angeles, Georgia and beyond to rally for his re-election.
In Washington DC, Black Lives Matter protesters were tear gassed to push them away from the White House, while in Kenosha – where Jacob Blake was shot on Sunday – protests continued, but were largely peaceful.
In Portland – among the most turbulent of cities in the wake of the May 25 shooting of George Floyd – more than 600 cars flying Trump flags and banners set off in a convoy around and through the city, after tense scenes at their meeting point and clashes with counter-protesters.
The shooting took place on Southwest 3rd Avenue and Alder Street – along the main throughfare which runs through the heart of Portland, past Portland State University.
Next to the body was camouflage gear.
The far-right group Patriot Prayer has been at the center of multiple Portland demonstrations that often culminate in violent clashes.
As the convoy of Trump vehicles entered the city center, Trump supporters sitting in the back of pick ups used pepper spray on counter-protesters.
Eggs were thrown at their trucks and cars, and the Trump supporters retaliated by turning paintball guns on the crowd, reportedly firing ball bearings.
A reporter was among those shot.
Two bare-chested men were filmed punching each other as the violence spread.
Riot police swarmed into the center and began making arrests.
A block away from the scene of the shooting, a black man in a face mask was pictured in an animated discussion with Joey Gibson, a right-wing political activist and founder of Patriot Prayer.
Meanwhile, the driver of a dark-colored sedan revved his engine and then sped towards the crowd of BLM protesters before driving off, miraculously managing to not kill anyone.
One BLM supporter was filming the license plates of MAGA cars.
An angry group of Trump supporters got out of the car and confronted the BLM activist, who was knocked to the ground.
A BLM activist with an orange neck scarf is attacked by a Trump supporter, wearing a black t-shirt and grey shorts
The Trump supporters then turned and walked away.
The Morrison Bridge was the scene of an ugly conflict as the caravan pulled into the city, and one Trump supporter drove his truck towards protesters on an off ramp. Two people brawled on the bridge, sparking a rapid response from Portland police who arrested the pair.
As night fell the caravan was cruising around town, with what organizers hoped was a show of strength to rival the Left-wing activists who have largely dominated the previous 94 nights of protest.
Seventy-four people are now facing federal charges related to protests that have rocked the city for three months since Floyd was killed, the local U.S. attorney announced Thursday.
The misdemeanor and felony charges include assaults on federal officers, arson and damaging federal property.
On Friday night protesters took to the condo lobby of Portland’s mayor, staging a sit-in and demanding police budget reductions and Mayor Ted Wheeler´s resignation. They left after a few hours.
Saturday’s pro-Trump demonstration was organized on Facebook, and 2,500 people said they intended to attend.
A New York Times reporter on the scene estimated that around 1,000 people showed up at Clackamas Town Center at 4pm.
‘We would like to get some fellow American patriots together for a Trump 2020 Cruise rally to support our great president,’ wrote Alex Kyzik, one of the organizers.
Attendees were encouraged to bring their guns, and conceal-carry them, in a video he posted previewing the event.
Some of those at the start, however, were openly flaunting their assault rifles.
I know for the most part, everyone here is gonna be pretty civilized. We’re all gonna support the president in safe way,’ said Brandon Beck, who was attending his first Trump rally.
He told Oregon Public Broadcasting: ‘Obviously we’re all gonna be in cars, none of us are gonna be burning, looting, or anything. We’re just trying to have fun and stay safe today.’
Joe Reminar told the site that he was a veteran of Trump rallies, and Saturday’s was the fifth or sixth he had attended.
‘Today is about freedom and showing that Antifa doesn’t have the full chokehold on Portland and that we’re taxpaying citizens and we don’t want shit tore up,’ he said.
‘We’re gonna be a major parade and showing strength for our president. Which we appreciate all that he’s done, keeping the economy going, fighting China on this virus, keeping us free and saving our Second Amendment.’
A crowd of Black Lives Matter activists turned up to meet them, waving their placards and engaging in tense confrontations.
One Trump supporter ripped off his jacket, squaring up for a fight, before he was escorted away by other Trump supporters.
A Black Lives Matter activist was pepper sprayed in another melee.
The convoy set off, with Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office vehicles blocking intersections around the Town Center mall to allow the parade of vehicles to pass through.
A heavy presence of Oregon state troopers was seen along Highway 224, the pro-Trump caravan’s primary route to Portland.
The caravan was intended to avoid downtown, but as night fell many of the cars strayed from the intended route and headed into the city center.
The caravan was due to disperse at 9pm.
A Black Lives Matter rally was being held across town, leading to concerns about flare-ups among the rival gangs.
And outside the White House, chaotic scenes unfolded following another night of Black Lives Matter protests that saw police clash with demonstrators, striking them with rubber bullets and detonating stun grenades, as they moved to clear out crowds.
Hundreds of protesters had gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza to rally against police brutality and racial injustice.
Members of the Metropolitan Police Department were out in force as demonstrators marched to the White House chanting, ‘No cops, no KKK, no fascists’.
Shortly before midnight, tensions between protesters and law enforcement boiled over, as police officers in riot gear began charging at crowds to move them out of the area.