Saturday, November 20, 2021

Unrest in Portland as Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Divides US

THE OBSERVER: Police declare a riot in Oregon’s largest city as observers condemn discrepancy in how law enforcement treats militia supporters and anti-racism protesters

A fire burns on the street during protests in Portland, Oregon after Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty over the shooting deaths of two people at an anti-racism protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. Photograph: Grace Morgan/Reuters

About 200 protesters in Portland, Oregon, broke windows and threw objects at police on Friday night as reaction poured in after a jury cleared Kyle Rittenhouse over the shooting deaths of two people at an anti-racism protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.

Sheriffs in the city declared a riot downtown after “violent, destructive behavior by a significant part of the crowd”, with reports some talked about burning down the Justice Center.

Police used loudspeakers to ask the crowd to disperse or face the use of force, including “pepper spray and impact weapons”. By 11pm the crowd had broken up and largely dispersed.

In Kenosha, shouting matches flared on the courthouse steps between supporters of opposing sides, embodying the wildly different lenses through which a divided America viewed the case.

Protest marches were also held in Chicago and New York. » | Gloria Oladipo | Saturday, November 20, 2021

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