Ted Wheeler Appalled, Black Bloc Giddy Over Portland Fracas and Fires

Five quotes and photos tell the story of Portland Police battling the Black Bloc on May Day.

By Corey Pein
A Black Bloc protester sets a fire on May 1 in downtown Portland. (William Gagan)

"Rob the rich to feed the poor!"

—Chant by Black Bloc protesters at the May 1 march in downtown Portland.

Black Bloc protesters came equipped with giant spiders. (William Gagan)

"The city has canceled the permit, based on the violence of the crowd."

—Portland Police Bureau loudspeaker van, announcing the city had revoked permission for the march after protesters threw projectiles, including full Pepsi cans, at riot police.

Bernie would’ve run. (Christine Dong)

"You should be protecting the people, not the government!"

—A middle-aged woman downtown, shouting to a passing police riot vehicle on its way to confront Black Bloc protesters.

Portland’s Resistance organizer Gregory McKelvey was handed a Pepsi at the march. Pepsi was a common sight: a parody of a Kendall Jenner ad. (William Gagan)

"That's not political speech. That's a crime."

—Mayor Ted Wheeler to the Associated Press, decrying the shattering of shop windows and vandalism of a police SUV.

MayDayprotest_antifapolice_ChristineDong

"That was a riot!"

—A Portland antifa member, gushing as police made 25 arrests and ended the march after Black Bloc members set fires along MAX tracks and smashed the glass of shop windows.

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antifaBlack BlocMay DayMayor Ted Wheelerprotests

Corey Pein

Corey Pein

Corey Pein has been a WW staff writer on and off since 2006. He grew up in rural Eastern Washington State and ♬ went to school / in Olympia ♬.

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