PORTLAND, Ore.—When the fence that had surrounded the federal courthouse here was removed earlier this month, city leaders touted it as a sign that Portland was returning to normal after nine months of protests that often turned violent.
But within days, bands of rioters were back in downtown Portland. They blocked streets, broke windows, threw a can of beer at police and, once again, vandalized the courthouse. Thirteen people were arrested following a protest on March 12 and the fence around the courthouse is now back up.