Man Catches Fire After Comrade Throws Molotov In Portland; Riot Declared, Tear Gas Deployed

A Portland protester rioter caught fire after running through a molotov cocktail thrown by a comrade Saturday night, during the city’s 100th straight of protests.

The man attempted to douse the flames as one onlooker shouted “stop, drop and roll!“

A man just got lit on fire. Chaotic night in Portland already #PortlandRiots #Portland pic.twitter.com/iWOP0is6MQ

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 6, 2020

Shoe of one the protesters struck. #portland source:https://t.co/tCDIZrVXXc pic.twitter.com/rwzOMg57S3

— Cacti (@SCCacti) September 6, 2020

Play by play:

Ok why not? Angle 2. pic.twitter.com/7QqD27468z

— Steve Inman (@SteveInmanUIC) September 6, 2020

Portland police worked with state troopers to force the crowd to disperse, thwarting their attempts to march to the nearby East Precinct, where dozens of police officers were waiting for them, according to Oregon Live.

Dozens of officers arrived to block the crowd’s path on Stark Street. Around 9:20 p.m., some people in the crowd threw at least three Molotov cocktail-like devices toward the police line. Another person lit a firework. One of the devices appeared to wound the foot of a bystander.

The series of explosions prompted police to immediately declare the gathering a riot and order people to leave. Police forced the crowd east and, within minutes, released tear gas onto the crowd. –Oregon Live

Fire bombs were thrown at officers, injuring at least one community member. Police are trying to restore peace and order for the safety of this neighborhood. https://t.co/V3UOCR6Bc4

— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 6, 2020

Portland PD deployed tear gas as protesters tossed fireworks in the street.

Extremely heavy smoke in SE Portland tonight as #antifa riot using Molotov cocktails. One person was already set on fire. BLM-antifa are celebrating more than 100 days of violence in the city. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/hqA5lF9gao

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 6, 2020

Earliest I’ve ever seen it declared a riot. Teargas and fireworks already in full force, and this was just shortly after 9 pm in Portland #PortlandRiots #Portland pic.twitter.com/1CzI5mrorj

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 6, 2020

It’s war pic.twitter.com/mRHYAyeDzy

— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 6, 2020

Police eventually rushed in and took down several protesters.

The cops find us in the maze of residential streets. They charge, tackle, arrest#BlackLivesMatter #PortlandProtesters #PDXprotests #PoliceViolence #PoliceBrutality #AbolishThePolice #DefendPDX pic.twitter.com/NzPIqehMnY

— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 6, 2020

Cops rush and make arrests, then start firing the gas#BlackLivesMatter #PortlandProtesters #PDXprotests #PoliceViolence #PoliceBrutality #AbolishThePolice #DefendPDX pic.twitter.com/R1Ytb7L3VA

— Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) September 6, 2020