#Portland protesters shoot fireworks at federal agents in another chaotic night

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A volunteer medic pours water on a tear gas canister shot by federal law enforcement officers towards protesters during a demonstration.
Reuters

Rioters in Portland shot fireworks at federal agents and set fires during another wild night of lawlessness that stretched into early Wednesday, according to a report.

The feds responded by deploying tear gas and flash bangs at the crowd — which at one point grew to at least 1,000 people outside the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse, KOIN reported.

Fires were set outside the boarded-up courthouse fence — which was erected last week — and less than a block away where the city’s iconic Elk statue previously stood, according to Portland police and KOIN.

Some of the federal agents used pepper spray on protesters as they attempted to break up the crowds, warning at least 10 times to stop lighting fireworks and messing with the courthouse fence, KOIN said.

Tuesday night marked the 61st consecutive day of protests following the death of George Floyd, the black man who died while pinned beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on May 25.

Clashes between protesters and federal agents continued — as reports emerged Tuesday that the Trump administration was in talks with Oregon officials about pulling the agents out of the city.

The city, meanwhile, has been fining the federal government $500 for every 15 minutes the un-permitted fence remains outside the courthouse.