Videos: Portland Engulfed by Overnight Riots as Kyle Rittenhouse Acquitted on All Charges

On Friday, police departments in major US cities said they were keeping a watchful eye on the situation after Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges, including reckless and intentional homicide, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Sheriffs have declared a riot in downtown Portland, Oregon, after a group of about 200 people protested Kyle Rittenhouse's acquittal, damaging property and throwing rocks at police on Friday night.

The events were deemed a riot after "violent, destructive behaviour by a significant part of the crowd", who began breaking windows and doors of city buildings.

This comes amid reports that some protesters talked about burning down the city's Justice Centre, where the Portland Police Bureau headquarters, a county jail, and several courtrooms are housed.

Police reported that windows were damaged at a city facility. This is the damage we found. #koin6news #pdx #pnw #portland #oregon pic.twitter.com/larQ5U1r8p

— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) November 20, 2021

🇺🇸⚡️US Portland police imposed a "riot regime" following an escalation following the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse.
#USA pic.twitter.com/oKr3RM0jWh

— The RAGE X (@theragex) November 20, 2021

Multnomah County Office building damaged after Portland protesters take to the streets downtown, many voiced frustration regarding the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. #Portland #protest pic.twitter.com/XKiYnadhKk

— Independent Media PDX (@NDpendentPDX) November 20, 2021

A person using a wheelchair was knocked over during a protest that was declared a riot by authorities tonight

Portland police clashed with demonstrators who gathered downtown after the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse pic.twitter.com/3wLSIhoRNr

— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) November 20, 2021

A number of photos and videos purportedly depicting the Portland unrest have since been shared on Twitter, with one piece of footage showing a person in a wheelchair being knocked down as a result of clashes between police and protesters.

Cops warned residents that responses to lower-priority calls may be delayed, adding that "significant resources have been diverted to address this riot and it is affecting response times".

Police officers used loudspeakers to ask rioters to disperse or face the use of force, including "pepper spray and impact weapons", as well citation or arrest.

Portland police have declared a riot tonight after demonstrators gathered downtown to protest the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial pic.twitter.com/7OBjgFvkbo

— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) November 20, 2021

The crowd had largely been dispersed by 11 p.m. local time, and it remains unclear whether any arrests were made, according to KOIN TV, Portland's CBS affiliate.

The unrest occurred after US President Joe Biden urged Americans "to express their views" peacefully and lawfully following the jury's decision to acquit 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse on all charges in the 2020 Kenosha shooting incident.

POTUS earlier said that the Rittenhouse verdict would leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, including himself, but that the jury's decision must be acknowledged.

Former US President Trump, in turn, congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse "for being found innocent of all charges", adding in an emailed statement that "it's called being found not guilty - and by the way, if that's not self-defence, nothing is!"

The 18-year-old was found not guilty on all charges, including reckless and intentional homicide, after shooting three men, killing two, during racial justice riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last August. Rittenhouse insists that he acted in self-defence, arguing he did not intend to kill anyone, but wanted to "protect" the property and businesses being looted and ransacked by rioters in Kenosha.