Antifa protesters have burned American flags and clashed with cops outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland.
The ugly scenes occurred Thursday evening, as dozens of the far-left protesters assembled in the area for a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Courthouse has already been boarded up with plywood after sustaining damage during destructive protests last summer, but shocking video shared to Twitter shows all remaining uncovered windows were smashed during the latest demonstration.
'Anti ICE protesters gather. A few of the remaining uncovered windows have been broken. An American flag burns in front of the door,' local journalist Garrison Davis wrote beneath a video shared on Twitter.
Several other demonstrators set fire to the plywood outside the building, prompting federal agents to deploy teargas and smoke bombs in a bid to push the protesters back towards a park.
Earlier in the day, Antifa activists attempted to break in to a Chase bank where a security guard pulled a gun on the protesters.
The demonstrators were targeting those funding a controversial oil pipeline between the Canadian province of Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin.
Antifa protesters have burned American flags and clashed with cops outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland
Local journalist Garrison Davis shared video of federal police clashing with protesters in Portland on Thursday night
According to Davis, 'the feds marched further into the streets of downtown Portland while firing off chemical weapons and projectiles. A few of their pepperball and 40 mm launchers appeared to malfunction'.
He claimed the agents were 'aggressive' and that the air was thick with smoke.
At least one person has been arrested.
In a tweet last night Portland police said it was bracing for yet more unrest over the weekend.
'We are aware of events planned tomorrow and this weekend in which people plan to gather and demonstrate. Demonstration Liaison Officers (DLOs) are available to work with community members organizing these events,' the tweet said.
Last summer in Portland, Black Lives Matter marches began in the wake of George Floyd's death, but the demonstrations soon became co-opted by far-left agitators.
Night after night, they clashed with law enforcement officials, who often declared riots.
Last summer in Portland, Black Lives Matter marches began in the wake of George Floyd's death, but the demonstrations soon became co-opted by far-left agitators. Night after night, they frequently clashed with law enforcement officials, who often declared riots. Pictured: a protest in July 2020
Federal police clean in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland after a night of unrest in July 2020
There were was at least 100 consecutive nights of unrest in the city.
The violence has continued into this year. In January, Antifa protesters went on a destructive rampage following President Biden's Inauguration.
Biden has previously appeared to downplay Antifa, describing the group as 'an idea'.
'President Biden condemned protests and violence on the far right and far left before he was president,' a Fox News journalist stated to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki after the January clash
'Why haven't we heard anything directly from him about about the riots in Portland and the Pacific Northwest since he was inaugurated?'
'President Biden condemns violence and any violence in the strongest possible terms,' Psaki responded.
'Peaceful protests are a cornerstone of our democracy but smashing windows is not protesting and neither is looting, and actions like these are totally unacceptable,' she continued.
'Actions like these are totally unacceptable and anyone who committed a crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.'
The court house sustained thousands of dollars worth of damage and has now been boarded up
Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse is pictured. Federal buildings in Portland have frequently been targeted and vandalized by protesters. Several of them have now been boarded up
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