PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Hours after a memorial service for George Floyd was held in Minneapolis, protesters gathered again at Revolution Hall in Portland for a 7th night of activity through the streets of the city.
The group of thousands marched from Southeast Portland, across the Morrison Bridge and stopped at Waterfront Park for the second night in a row. Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard marched at the front of the group, arm-in-arm with fellow demonstrators. The crowd listened peacefully to speeches for a few hours. Most of the group left around 10 p.m. and headed back across the Willamette River; however, a second group formed near the Multnomah County Justice Center where clashes have broken out previous nights between protesters and police.
Officers urged people to stop throwing projectiles at police and warned there were children in the crowd. Liason officers with the Portland Police Bureau made their way along the fence the crowd was pushed up against and spoke with protesters throughout the night.
Photos: Portland 7th night of protests, June 4, 2020
A drum circle broke out shortly after 11 p.m. and appeared to significantly calm any agitation in the crowd. The group appeared to thin out when the drumming died down. A second group broke off and marched northbound on 6th Avenue but the night ended on a relatively peaceful note.
The Thursday night protest comes on the heels of another largely peaceful demonstration Wednesday that stretched past midnight. Mayor Wheeler and other city leaders held a press conference to discuss what happened and what’s next.
Below is a timeline of events from the Portland protests of June 4, 2020:
3 a.m.
The Portland Police Bureau again tweeted that demonstraters downtown had gathered in an unlawful assembly just before 3 a.m. on Friday morning. Around 3:45 a.m., the PPB tweeted they had made several arrests and towed a few vehicles whose occupants had been engaged in criminal activities. They said the rest of the crowd had dispersed by then.
2 a.m.
Just before 2 a.m., PPB announced a civil disturbance and unlawful gathering, commanding people to leave the downtown area immediately.
1 a.m.
The PPB tweeted criminal activity and street racing was occurring at Southwest 3rd and Salmon around 1:30 a.m. and advised those involved to move their cars and leave to avoid being arrested. By 1:45 a.m., the police tweeted “If you want to leave the downtown area now, please do so. We will not arrest you. All parks are closed. Leave now.”
12 a.m.
A large group near the Justice Center sings “Happy Birthday” to Breonna Taylor, who would have been 27 on Friday.
11 p.m.
Tension in the crowd largely evaporated when a drummer attracted a large circle of protesters. The group chanted the names of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor for several minutes.
A large still still remains outside of the Justice Center barrier fence but many have left. Another group is marching northbound on 6th Avenue and drivers should be cautious, police say.
10:30 p.m.
Officers continue to ask the crowd to stop throwing projectiles at police and to stop climbing the police barricade fence around the Justice Center. They’re asking people with children in the crowd to leave.
Police say most of the crowd from the peaceful rally that ended at Waterfront Park are making their way back over the bridge and leaving the area. Officers thanked them for their “desire to demonstrate peacefully.”
10 p.m.
Police are asking people to stop tampering with the barrier fence set up around the Multnomah County Justice Center. Officers ask those gathered to stay peaceful and not climb on the fence. An officer over a loudspeaker says there are children in the crowd. They say people that do will be subject to arrest or “use of force.”
A large group at SW Jefferson and 2nd, near a parking garage that’s been fenced off by police, is chanting “No justice! No peace! No racist police” and slurs against police. KOIN 6 crews at the scene watched at least one water bottle being thrown toward police.
9:30 p.m.
Portland police thanked the crowd at Waterfront Park for remaining peaceful but say a second group of protesters has gathered at SW 3rd and Main and is causing “criminal activity.” Officers are asking the large peaceful group to stay put until peace returns near the Justice Center.
More than 1,000 people are still gathered at Waterfront Park, listening to speeches.
8 p.m.
Thousands of people are peacefully marching toward Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Some are chanting “No justice! No Peace!” and “Black lives matter.” Damian Lillard is at the front of the crowd with some of the youth who are taking part.
Police say multiple drones have been spotted flying over the crowd flooding the park along the Willamette River and “whoever is flying them needs to stop now. It is dangerous to fly over a crowd.”
7:15 p.m.
The large group is starting to cross the Morrison Bridge. Among their numbers is Portland Trail Blazers star, Damian Lillard.
Portland police ask drivers to use caution in the area and encourage the night to remain peaceful.
6:45 p.m.
The large group near Revolution Hall is mobilizing. They will be marching along Stark, 7th, Morrison and west across the Morrison Bridge, then onto Naito Parkway to Waterfront Park.
A speaker at the protest says they made a “mistake” yesterday by breaking people into two groups and they will not be doing that again tonight.
5:45 p.m.
A multi-cultural, multi-generational group of people are gathering again at SE 13th and Stark near Revolution Hall, which has become the starting point this week for the protests spurred by the death of George Floyd.
One of the organizers of the protest, Devin Boss, says there is a core group of people who are going to keep the protests and marches going. They call themselves “Rose City Justice.”
5 p.m.
People are gathering for a peaceful demonstration in West Linn. The group plans to march from the corner of Salamo and Day roads to Tanner Creek Park and back.
4 p.m.
Multnomah County Health officials asked protesters to wear a mask while demonstrating to prevent the spread of COVID-19
TriMet said they planned to run normal bus and MAX service through the evening, but might adjust if the situation warrants — including suspending service in downtown Portland.
“These adjustments may come with little to no warning. Also due to tonight’s demonstrations, Portland Streetcar service will end at 8 p.m.”
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