A viral video captures a Portland Black man standing up to protesters outside of Portland’s vandalized Federal Courthouse while holding an American flag.
What We Know:
- An unnamed Black man, wearing a mask and holding an American flag, was standing outside Portland’s Federal Courthouse Saturday night, telling a crowd of protesters who were tearing down a fence in front of the building to stand with him if they were for justice. “If you stand for justice come here and stand with me, stand with me because I stand for justice,” he said. “I’m not here to tear down this f––– fence, I’m not here to spray-paint.”
- In the video, the man is heard telling the crowd that none of them “represent Black lives” and persuaded them to stop with the violent rioting, which has been going on for the past two months in Oregon. The protesters continued to ask the man to move so they could occupy the step to the courthouse but the man stood his ground and asked “why” they were taking down the fence.
“It’s going on every day. If you don’t want to get gassed, stop! It has to stop!”
- The video was taken by Jorge Ventura, a reporter with the Daily Caller. An additional video from Ventura shows protesters taking down the fencing and stacking it against the courthouse. Others were using fencing and hammers to strike and damage the walls of the courthouse. There were a few who attempted to persuade the protesters to stop but they were shouted down, according to Portland police.
- Protesters have also been vandalizing police cars, they ruined the Elk statue, and set garbage cans on fire.
- Police began clearing the area after protesters broke into a Portland Police Association office building and started a fire inside. “As the crowd was dispersed, several people in the crowd were arrested and officers were able to extinguish the fire,” police said in a statement Sunday. “Portland Police did not use any CS gas.”
A lot of businesses in downtown Portland have suffered $23 million in damage and lost business during the violent protests after the death of George Floyd.
