PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two 17-year-old boys who were captured on video as Portland police pulled them from a crowd of march participants and arrested them during the Sept. 20 student climate protest won’t be prosecuted for any crimes.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports officials from the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division reviewed the teens’ cases and determined they should instead enter a “diversion” program that could require them to have a discussion with Portland police about their behavior.
The arrests drew criticism from the parent, student and minority communities — some of whom accused police of racism and thought officers acted too aggressively.
Critics were appalled at one video, which has been viewed more than 1 million times on Twitter, that showed officers pushing through white teens to get to and drag away one of the only African American teens.
A second teen who was white was arrested for allegedly interfering with police as they made the first arrest.
Portland police said that earlier in the protest, the African American teen was the only demonstrator who repeatedly defied police orders.