On July 4th, in downtown Portland, activists gathered to listen to speakers speak against racism and police brutality before setting flags ablaze and moving to the streets to light off fireworks. Federal officers briefly engaged the crowd with munitions leading to protesters focusing their attention on the Federal Courthouse.
A riot was declared and the protesters were pushed back by officers with tear gas. The crowd was chased throughout downtown by federal officers and Portland Police who once again filled blocks of the city with tear gas. The crowd regrouped at Waterfront Park and marched down Burnside and eventually back to the Courthouse.
The protesters again gathered around the Justice Center and Federal Courthouse holding an impromptu rally and lighting more fireworks. After the street in front of the courthouse was blockaded with a large bonfire federal officers again pushed the crowd back with a barrage of tear gas and pepperballs. After more roving conflicts through the city the crowd had largely dispersed.
