Around 9:00 pm. last night, a group of protesters went to the front of the Portland Police Headquarters and almost immediately began engaging in unlawful behavior.  Police estimated that the group had grown to more than 100 to 200 by this time.  Fights broke out between peaceful protesters and the agitators that were in the group.  Just after 10:15 pm someone in the group began setting off fireworks which created an initial panic and some of the protesters began scattering.  At this time a dispersal order was given to the group as officers and police headquarters were pitted with rocks, bottles, bricks and fireworks.  Around 10:42 pm pepper spray was used on people that were throwing objects at the police.

The first arrests were made at 10:47 pm.  Police continued to issue dispersal orders and also again attempted to meet and seek compliance through the remaining group leaders.  In total, ten people were arrested for Failure to Disperse.  All of the arrested were taken to the Cumberland County Mail and have made bail.

This followed a group of protesters that had first gathered in Congress Square Park just after 6:00 pm.  The group of over 1,000 gathered in front of the Portland Police Headquarters, Middle Street, where they held a peaceful protest and a moment of silence.  Chief Frank Clark, city manager Jon Jennings and other officials knelt with the group for nine minutes in solidarity and recognition of the time that George Floyd was held down.

The group was then escorted to the Eastern Promenade where they gathered until returning to Congress Square Park.  The protest was called to an end by organizers shortly before 9:00 pm.  That’s when a group returned to the Portland Police Headquarters where the ensuing unlawful behavior began described previously.