Protesters set government building on fire [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Portland was struck with another riot on Tuesday night as violent protesters broke out a county government building, smashing its windows and setting it up on fire, according to authorities.
• County Chari Deborah Kafoury said that the fire destroyed the community involvement office where the first gay marriage in Oregon was held. The building also hosted the distribution of protective gear against COVID-19.
• The city has been struck with unrest over the last few months which stemmed from the fatal death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May 25.

Local authorities of Portland said that another violent unrest occurred on Tuesday night and lasted until Wednesday morning. Demonstrators went berserk as they destroyed the windows of a county government building, lit it up, and clashed with the police. 

According to County Chair Deborah Kafoury, the fire devastated the county government’s office of community involvement at the Multnomah Building. It hosted the first gay marriage in Oregon and the distribution of protective equipment in battling the coronavirus.

“This is the heart of our County, where people in our community come to get married, get their passports, and celebrate their cultural traditions and diversity,” Kafoury said in a statement.

A riot was declared by city officers when the protesters had already broken out the county building, smashing the windows and threw burning materials inside the establishment, the police said on Wednesday. Fire alarms and sprinklers were activated by the incident.

Two protesters were detained and one officer got injured as the result of the clash between them, the police said.

Kafoury pleaded for support and justice for the community involvement office. 

She also added that there is a “grave injustice in our world and there is a violent and tragic history of oppression in our County. I am committed to transformational change.”

“In such a difficult, uncertain time, our community needs all of us to work together,” Kafoury continued.

Police officers also said they have identified an assailant who was accused of beating up a man after crashing his pick-up truck near the ongoing rally site.

Portland has faced more than two months of unrest which started after the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody on May 25. Protesters have been continuously breaking police headquarters. The city also witnessed several brawls last month as demonstrators and federal agents clashed.

Source: AOL.com