Anti-Trump protest in Portland, Oregon, turns destructive and police blame 'anarchists'

Police in downtown Portland
(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

The second night of protests against President-elect Donald Trump were generally smaller in cities around the country, but in Portland, Oregon, police blamed a small group of "anarchists" for the "riot" that grew out of a largely peaceful protest of some 4,000 demonstrators downtown. Some protesters smashed store windows, damaged a car lot, threw firecrackers, hurled objects at police, and ignited a dumpster fire. Early Friday morning, Portland police said they had arrested 26 people and "deployed less lethal munitions such as OC spray and vapor (pepper spray), rubber ball distraction devices, rubber baton rounds."

As the protest started getting destructive, the Portland Police tweeted out this ominous, poorly worded message:

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.