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Democrat District Attorney in Portland Refuses to Prosecute Violent Communist Rioter After BLM Whines; She Responds: ‘This a Revolution and We&r
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Democrat District Attorney in Portland Refuses to Prosecute Violent Communist Rioter After BLM Whines; She Responds: ‘This a Revolution and We’re Getting Reparations; We’re Taking It to D.C., Baby!’
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Black woman who became a leading activist in the Black Lives Matter movement after she was assaulted by a white supremacist three years ago won't be charged after her arrest early Monday fueled anger among protest leaders in Portland, Oregon, authorities said,
Demetria Hester, 46, was booked on suspicion of disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer during the protest that began Sunday night. The Multnomah County district attorney's office later said Hester would not be prosecuted but offered no further details.
Hester's arrest drew a sharp rebuke from national Black Lives Matter activists, who are increasingly focusing on demonstrations in Oregon's largest city.
After her release, Hester said at a news conference that she would keep protesting and joined others in announcing plans for a fundraiser to send Black mothers to Washington, D.C.
“I was born and bred to do this. This is a dream come true,” Hester said, tearing up as the crowd cheered. “This is a revolution and we're getting reparations. We're taking it to D.C., baby!"
Hester and 15 other people were arrested during Portland's 73rd consecutive nights of protest. A group of about 200 demonstrators gathered a a park and then marched to the police union headquarters, where some people set fires outside the building and launched fireworks at officers.
Two officers were injured, including one who was burned on the neck when a firework exploded, police said.
Police declared a riot shortly after 10 p.m. and began arresting people, including Hester.
President Donald Trump once more seized on the protests and said on Twitter that Portland was “out of control." He urged Democratic Gov. Kate Brown to bring in the Oregon National Guard.
Protests that attracted thousands of people in July — when Trump sent U.S. agents to protect the federal courthouse — have dwindled to nightly crowds of about 200, with a small number committing acts of vandalism and violence.
Peaceful demonstrations with speeches, chanting and singing also occur in the city every day and night at various locations and don't require a police presence.
On Monday, civil rights groups in Portland and members of the international Black Lives Matter organization, who traveled to Portland, decried Hester's arrest and said the city was at the center of the racial justice protest movement. The hashtag #freedemetria gained momentum on Twitter long after Hester had been released from jail.
“The struggle here in Portland has become almost ground zero because what we’ve seen under this administration is the kind of flexing that we haven’t really seen in our generation, ever," said Janaya Khan, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto. "People only protest when politicians and policies and police have failed to protect them. That is the only time that people protest, risking life and limb.”
[link to katu.com (secure)]
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