UP IN FLAMES
"BLACK Lives Matter and Antifa rioters" burned an American flag on Saturday night during Portland unrest after a Proud Boys gathering.
Footage of the incident - which took place in Portland, Oregon - showed demonstrators lighting the patriotic banner on fire and then throwing it to the ground to burn.
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The video was shared to Twitter and has since obtained more than 63,000 views.
"BLM-antifa rioters burn the US flag at their gathering in downtown Portland," the Twitter user wrote, alongside the video in an early Sunday morning post.
As the flag was ignited, someone is heard saying "Lets Go!" as a few claps can be heard protesters.
It appears that multiple photographers were standing around as the flag burning ensued.
Counter left-wing protesters took part in demonstrations just hours after the Proud Boys, a far-right organization, for the most part, peacefully rallied during the day.
“They’ve allowed 120 days of rioting and looting and murder happening within our streets and we’re locals so we’re just tired of this, that’s why we’re out here today,” said Haley Adams told reporters, in support of the Proud Boys group.
The Proud Boys - which appeared alongside other alt-right groups at extremist gatherings in 2018 - were launched in 2016 and have been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Protests have been taking place in the violence-plagued city of Portland for nearly four months - in the aftermath of George Floyd's fatal arrest which sparked nationwide unrest.
The Unified Command of Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office were assigned to the Portland protests on Saturday.
According to an MCSO press release, protests started out peacefully during the day on Saturday until approximately 8.30pm when hundreds more gathered into Downtown Portland.
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As protesters refused to obey police orders to disperse out of roadways, officers made arrests.
"While making arrests and ticketing illegally parked vehicles, projectiles were thrown at officers including full beverages cans, firecrackers and rocks," police stated.
As officers cleared another area after 10.30pm, they "were targeted by high velocity objects, believed to be ball bearings launched from slingshots."
Officers ended up making multiple arrests in Portland's downtown Lownsdale and Chapman Square Parks.
The weekend chaos came after Oregon State Governor Kate Brown announced a weekend state of emergency.
Brown said on Friday: “The First Amendment does not give anyone license to hurt or kill someone because of opposing political views.
“And when free expression is fueled by hate and coupled with an intent to incite violence, then I need to do everything I can as governor to ensure the safety of Oregonians."
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The emergency was declared just days after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Portland cops and a Justice Center was set on fire as Breonna Taylor riots erupted across the city.
Meanwhile, two cops were shot in Louisville, Kentucky, after a grand jury's decision to not directly charge officers over Breonna's death.
Shock moment Molotov cocktail is thrown at Portland cops and Justice Center set on fire as Breonna Taylor riots erupt