About 300 anti-lockdown protesters, some of them armed, gathered outside the Oregon State Capitol building and forced their way in on ...
About 300 anti-lockdown protesters, some of them armed, gathered outside the Oregon State Capitol building and forced their way in on Monday as lawmakers convened for a special session.
Governor Kate Brown called for the special session closed to the public where lawmakers discussed pandemic relief and vaccination distribution funding, as protesters gathered to oppose COVID-19 restrictions.
The 'Reopen Oregon' rally started around 9am comprised of members of the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other far-right groups, some seen carrying rifles and pistols and waving American flags and Trump banners.
They were heard chanting 'We just want our rights back!' and 'USA!'
About 100 demonstrators forced their way into the building from two entrances and once inside they shouted obscenities and yelled 'Let them eat cake!' as dozens of armed state troopers blocked a door into a hallway.
Shortly before 9.30am police declared unlawful assembly and said protesters would be arrested on disorderly conduct and trespassing charges if they did not disperse.
About 300 anti-lockdown protesters gathered outside the Oregon State Capitol building and forced their way in on Monday as lawmakers convened for a special session shouting 'We just want our rights back!' and 'USA!' One protester carried a pitchfork with an American flag draped on it
The 'Reopen Oregon' rally called for the end of coronavirus restrictions in the state
The demonstration was made up of members of the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other far-right groups, some seen carrying rifles and pistols and waving American flags and Trump banners
Oregon officials wearing helmets and armed with batons pictured pushing protesters away from the Captiol building
Video from outside the building shows protesters demanding entry shouting 'We have a right to be here!' and 'Arrest Kate Brown! in fury with her handling of the pandemic.
Members of Patriot Prayer organized the rally to force their way into the special session
One woman was seen trying to climb a window on the west side of the Capitol building but was brought down by state troopers, according to The Daily Beast.
Freelance writer Laura Jedeed said cops deployed 'a great deal of mace' at the crowd.
The Salem Police Department tweeted that a group of protesters had gathered outside the building and urged the public to avoid the area. Streets in the vicinity were closed down.
Once the protesters got inside they were contained within the atrium. There, they shouted at a group troopers blocking them from progressing further into the building.
Video shows demonstrators voicing their anger with coronavirus lockdowns with one person yelling: 'You’re having birthday parties while you shut us down!'
By 10.30am protesters were pushed out of the building and ordered to remain in the street after police declared they were unlawfully assembling.
Just after 10am at least two protesters were arrested at the entrance to the Capitol, as per The Statesman Journal.
Governor Kate Brown called for the special session closed to the public where lawmakers discussed pandemic relief. Protester chanted 'Arrest Kate Brown' in fury with her handling of the pandemic
A view of protesters forcing their way into the State Capitol building on Monday morning above
After police declared the protest was unlawful assembly troopers and police armed with batons came out to order demonstrators away as warnings blared on speakers saying those who refuse to leave would be arrested on disorderly conduct and trespassing charges
Officers pictured confronting protesters outside the Oregon State Capitol building
A view of protesters waving American and pro-police flags above. Many of the protesters did not wear masks
The session started at 8am Monday and several bills were on the agenda including how to allocate some $800million in relief to Oregon residents.
The agenda included coronavirus restriction revisions such as whether to allow restaurants and bars to serve alcoholic drinks to go, relief for landlords and tentants, a bill to protect schools from lawsuits.
Due to the pandemic lawmakers in the state limited their time together to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This is the third special session to take place since March.
Oregon has recorded more than 103,000 COVID-19 infections and more than 1,300 deaths.
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