page_title: George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon
section_title: July
hierarchical_section_title: George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon / Demonstrations / July
caption_attribution_description: English: Anti-fascist messaging on the w:Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building during the 2020 George Floyd protests.
context_page_description: Starting in May 2020, demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd have been held in the city of Portland, Oregon, concurrent with protests in other cities around the United States and around the world. As of July 2020, many of the protests, which have been held every day since May 28, have drawn more than 1,000 participants.
  Some of the protests in Portland have been peaceful, but some have involved injury, vandalism, arson, looting, and heated confrontations with police, sometimes involving injury to protesters and police, declaration of riot, and use of tear gas and other less-lethal weapons.
  In early July, the federal government deployed law enforcement officers to Portland to protect federal property. The deployment has been criticized for not clearly identifying officers and seizing protesters not on or near federal property, including by Portland's mayor and most of the state's congressional delegation. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection service defended the practice on the grounds protecting the officers' personal safety.
context_section_description: Protests, some turning violent, continued nightly through July. During the first week of July, the Portland federal courthouse had become a frequent target of vandalism. Officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were deployed following President Trump's executive order that sought to protect statues. Willamette Week reported that several federal law enforcement agencies were deployed to Portland on July 2, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations. DHS sent officers in tactical gear from "more than a half-dozen" federal agencies and departments from around the country. Portland Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said his department had not requested federal assistance and that federal officers' presence would "complicate things" for the PPB.
  On July 1–2, protesters set fire to the Elk sculpture and fountain in the Plaza Blocks that resulted in structural damage to the granite base; deemed a safety hazard by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the city removed the unharmed elk on July 2, and later, the fountain. The Promised Land, also installed in the Plaza Blocks, was damaged as well.
  Multiple demonstrations took place in the city on July 4 including an "Anti-Independence Day" rally that began at  Portland State University's Native American Student & Community Center, expressing indigenous support for Black Americans, followed by the "Bars Up Guns Down" motorcycle ride from Revolution Hall to the Justice Center and back in support of Black Lives Matter.  That night, several hundred people gathered at Chapman Square and let off illegal aerial fireworks, some of which were aimed directly at the Justice Center, actions that were condemned by the PPB and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Police twice declared a riot on the national holiday, first at 4 am and again after 11 pm.  Protests continued on July 5 for the 39th consecutive day. Seven people faced federal charges for their activities at the Justice Center demonstrations over the July 4 weekend.
  On July 9 about 50 people marched in Lents Park and about 100 gathered downtown by the Justice Center. In the same neighborhood, a young Black woman,  18-year-old Shai-India Harris, was fatally shot, and the police did not immediately identify any suspects. A man from Texas was arrested for striking a Portland police officer three times with a hammer on July 10. On July 11, protester Donavan La Bella was shot in the head with a "less lethal" round by federal police, suffering facial and skull fractures and having to undergo facial reconstruction surgery. On July 14, a group marched from Kenton Park to the Portland Police Association building on Lombard street, where the crowd grew to more than 200 people. After demonstrators faced off with police officers, the police declared a riot.
  During the protests, tactical officers from the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's elite BORTAC unit were sent to Portland to protect federal property. Starting on or about July 14, however, federal agents in unmarked vehicles began arresting protesters who were not near federal property. Rose City Justice led a march of 200–250 people from Revolution Hall to Pioneer Courthouse Square on July 14, after having previously suspended its activities. On July 14, Wheeler called on Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf to remove federal agents from the city, accusing them of causing violence and using "life-threatening tactics" and saying "we do not need or want their help". The following day, four of Oregon's U.S. lawmakers issued a statement condemning the recent actions of federal law enforcement officials in Portland, who used tear gas and other aggressive techniques multiple times since July 10. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer accused the federal government of a "politically driven" response and of seeking "to target, attack, or silence those peacefully exercising their Fi
caption: Graffiti outside Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building, July 19, 2020
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