After an unsuccessful attempt to set up their own autonomous zone in Portland, protestors instead vandalized and tore down a statue of George Washington on the eve of Juneteenth.
According to CBS, a group of approximately 20 people surrounded the statue of Washington before wrapping an American flag around its head and setting it ablaze. “Genocidal colonist” and “F*** cops” were also spray-painted on the monument.
There’s now a burning American flag on GW’s face. pic.twitter.com/3Un3acJk22
— Tuck Woodstock (@tuckwoodstock) June 19, 2020
The number of protesters grew until the group managed to pull down the statue.
A statue of George Washington has been pulled down with ropes at NE 57th & Sandy near the German American Society. #koin6news #PDXprotests #protest2020 #Portland #BlackLivesMatter #BLMPDX #BLM #Oregon #Investigation #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #vandalism #spraypaint #statue #rosecity pic.twitter.com/xmWYtpcbJE
— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) June 19, 2020
The crowd quickly dispersed following the toppling of the monument and the police arrived a short time later.