Portland police have arrested eight more protesters on unrest-related charges after they vandalized the state Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday.
A group of about 150 anti-government and anti-fascist demonstrators protesting against President Joe Biden’s inauguration gathered around Revolution Hall at 2 p.m. and marched to the headquarters. Some smashed windows and vandalized the building.
''Charges range from felony criminal mischief, possession of a destructive device, and riot,'' Sgt. Kevin Allen, the spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said in a video statement early Thursday morning. ''During the event weapons were seized, including Molotov cocktails, knives, batons, chemical sprays, and a crowbar.''
Police later arrested demonstrators that converged on the ICE building in the South Waterfront neighborhood Wednesday evening. Some protesters were carrying pepper ball guns, fireworks, shields, rocks, and ''electronic weapons similar to tasers,'' Allen said. Many wore gas masks and helmets.
Portland has been the scene of unrest for months, with civil rights, anarchist, and anti-fascist protesters scuffling with police and occasionally with right-wing militias and Trump supporters.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.