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Portland protester catches on fire after rioters throw Molotov cocktails and launch fireworks at police
Image via Twitter @ByMikeBaker screenshot

Portland protester catches on fire after rioters throw Molotov cocktails and launch fireworks at police

Police declared a riot on the 100th day of protests in Portland

Saturday marked the 100th consecutive day of protests in Portland, Oregon, but things escalated into violence, and police declared a riot after agitators threw Molotov cocktails and launched fireworks at law enforcement officers.

Hundreds of people gathered at Ventura Park in southeast Portland around 7 p.m. Saturday, including many dressed in all black clothing. Some of them donned helmets, gas masks, body armor, and a few were equipped with large shields.

Around 9 p.m., the crowd marched toward the east precinct, but Portland police stopped the procession. Police said the rioters then engaged in "tumultuous and violent conduct."

About 9:15 p.m., rioters began throwing fire bombs, shooting illegal fireworks, mortars, and hurling rocks at police officers. One rioter had a "wrist-rocket" type of slingshot.

A Portland police sergeant was "struck by a commercial grade firework, which burned through his glove and injured his hand," according to the Portland Police Bureau. Portland police responded with crowd control munitions, including tear gas and impact weapons.

One of the Molotov cocktails landed in front of the officers and ignited a large fire. A protester caught on fire from the inferno and frantically attempted to put out the flame by running around the street. Police say the Portland fire and rescue medics offered treatment to the man who caught on fire.

"The injured person was later taken to a hospital by private vehicle," authorities said.

(Content Warning: The following videos contain graphic content):

Oregon State Police troopers were also patrolling Portland on Saturday night. Last week, Oregon State Police troopers were deputized by U.S. Marshals. The deputization lasts a year.

The State Police troopers will work alongside Portland police as well as "protect and defend federal government buildings and personnel during a civil disturbance" when necessary, Kevin Sonoff, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said.

That means that an Oregon State Police trooper can arrest someone for a federal crime and then turn the case over to a federal prosecutor instead of a state prosecutor.

This is a significant development since Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Shmidt announced last month that his office would not prosecute certain crimes during the ongoing protests. Included in those crimes that his office refused to prosecute is interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer, disorderly conduct in the second degree, criminal trespass in the first and second degree, escape in the third degree, harassment, and riot (unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list).

Rioters lit dumpsters, garbage cans, and wooden pallets on fire in the streets. Portland police said that over 50 people were arrested during Saturday's civil unrest.

Saturday's riot came a day after the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office unsealed court documents that give new insights into last weekend's lethal shooting in Portland. The unsealed documents show that self-described Antifa member, Michael Forest Reinoehl, targeted Patriot Prayer members Aaron "Jay" Danielson and Chandler Pappas. Danielson was shot dead on Aug. 29.

A crowd of about 200 held a vigil for Danielson on Saturday near Portland, where Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson called for members not to seek revenge for Danielson's death.

"I know that Jay would not want that," Gibson said. "Jay wants us to stand up for what we believe in, and he does not want any more violence, guys. He does not want any more violence."

Gibson also called for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) to apologize to Danielson's family. Gibson said Wheeler enabled "a culture of lawlessness" that he claimed resulted in the death of Danielson.

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