Protests continue in Portland over George Floyd death

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Portland Friday night to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

Earlier, thousands of people filled Peninsula Park in North Portland for a peaceful evening vigil that lasted three hours, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Hundreds then began marching through downtown to Portland police headquarters outside the Multnomah County Justice Center. There was scattered vandalism along the route.

Officers declared the event an “unlawful assembly” around 11 p.m. Some demonstrators smashed some windows in the building.

“If you do not go home now, force will be used to disperse you,” Portland police said on Twitter.

People were protesting the death of 46-year-old Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a white officer pressed his knee into his neck as Floyd begged for air. That officer was arrested on criminal charges Friday.

Protests also occurred Thursday night in Oregon's largest city. One man was arrested early Friday morning and charged with interfering with a police officer along with resisting arrest.