PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — About a dozen Portland police units rushed to City Hall after protesters refused to adhere to the rules during a city council meeting about the ratified contract between the city and the Portland Police Association.
Homeland Security agents also rushed to Portland City Hall, which went into lockdown around noon.
The incident erupted at City Hall shortly before noon after the protesters refused to adhere to the rules. Mayor Charlie Hales addressed the protesters, one of them by name, and said they would “be excluded” from the ability to attend more of the meeting.
After more than an hour, the doors to City Hall were still locked, but some officers started to leave. Roughly 30 protesters remained inside demanding the release of two people who had been arrested.
David Davis, 46, and Laura Vanderlyn, 53, were arrested for trespassing. Davis being held on $1,000 bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center and Vanderlyn was released.
The Portland City Council recessed and decided not to address the police contract until next week. Hales rescheduled the City Council meeting for Thursday afternoon with limited access after the protest Wednesday.
Protesters cleared City Hall by 3 p.m.
—-
The Portland Police Association recently ratified a new contract with the city, but it still needs to be approved by the City Council. The activist group Don’t Shoot PDX wants the City Council to suspend that approval until Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler takes over in January.
Last week the City Council said they would likely vote on October 12.
