Antifa rioters break windows at Democrat HQ in Portland, spray-paint 'F*** BIDEN!' messages



Antifa rioters attacked the headquarters of the Democratic Party in Portland, Oregon, and left anti-Joe Biden messages on the day of his inauguration in Washington, D.C.

About a hundred protesters dressed in black marched in a demonstration against police on Wednesday before vandalizing the Democratic office.

Inauguration Day in Portland. A group of about 100 people dressed in black march thru Southeast Portland https://t.co/cGhVhdTwGW
— Mike Benner (@Mike Benner)1611184697.0

Some protesters were carrying Antifa flags.

KOIN-TV reported that the protesters attacked police after several officers tried to take weapons away from the crowd. The rioters threw objects at the police officers and they responded by deploying a smoke canister.

Other videos from the protest on social media showed the attack as it happened. Some rioters had a difficult time breaking the windows.

On the ground in Portland, Ore. for @townhallcom. A group of Antifa marchers just attacked the city’s Democratic Pa… https://t.co/IjWy3JzmHc
— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1611187031.0

Rioters spray-painted “F*** BIDEN" at the building.

The rioting appeared to be planned well in advance, as demonstrated by flyers advertising the event days earlier.

Other videos from the protest documented that the Antifa demonstrators were anti-Biden and also anti-police.

Police said eight people were arrested and the charges ranged from criminal mischief to possession of a destructive device to riot and reckless burning.

To those gathered near the Democratic Party of Oregon Portland Headquarters: Members of this grouphave been observ… https://t.co/QBXzWI8J8d
— Portland Police (@Portland Police)1611186663.0

A statement from the Democratic Party of Oregon said officials would not be deterred by the recurring vandalism from left-wing mobs.

"This is not the first time our building has been vandalized during the past year," the statement read, "none of the prior incidents have deterred us from our important work to elect Democrats up and down the ballot, and this one will be no different."

Similar violence was documented from Antifa rioters in Portland after the election in November.

KOIN reported that many owners of businesses in downtown Portland were bracing for possible outbreaks of violence from left-wing rioters in the evening. Some businesses were boarded up and many employees were told to work from home.

Here's more about the rioting in Portland:

Protesters smash windows at Democratic Party HQ in Northeastwww.youtube.com

Texas Gov. Abbott rips move by Pentagon and FBI to vet National Guard troops ahead of Inauguration: 'Most offensive thing I've ever heard'



Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has had it with what he sees as "offensive" treatment of National Guard troops by the Pentagon and the FBI ahead of Wednesday's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

The Washington Post reported Monday that the Pentagon had vowed to vet the tens of thousands of troops being sent to Washington, D.C., for Inauguration Day, with assistance from the FBI. The added scrutiny, the paper said, was based on "concern about potential internal threats" after multiple suspects from the Jan. 6 Capitol riots were found to have ties to both law enforcement and the military.

Gov. Abbott, who sent more than 1,000 Texas National Guardsman to D.C. to assist with security, said he's not at all happy with what he sees as disrespect for the men and women in uniform. In at Twitter response to the Post story, Abbott called the move to vet troops "offensive" and stood behind the integrity of the Texas National Guard personnel.

"This is the most offensive thing I've ever heard," Abbott vented. "No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of the Texas National Guard."

Noting that he had sent more than 1,000 troops for the inauguration, he vowed that, if this is how they're going to be treated, then Texas troops would just have to sit it out the next time they're needed for such an event.

"I'll never do it again if they are disrespected like this," the governor said.

This is the most offensive thing I've ever heard.No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of th… https://t.co/Bt06g7BWV3
— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott)1611018197.0

According to Fox News, defense officials are worried about an "insider attack" or other possible threats from service members charged with Inauguration security.

A Sunday statement from the U.S. Army, Fox News reported, said the military and the Secret Service were working to determine if there were any troops in D.C. needing additional background screening.

The Defense Department instituted the increased scrutiny in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and subsequent threats of violence across the nation uncovered by the FBI last week.

Shortly after the Capitol attack, the government was seeking 6,000 to 8,000 National Guard troops for the inauguration. The number of troops quickly ballooned to 20,000 by the end of last week. On Monday, multiple reports put the personnel level at 25,000.

Last Tuesday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized the thousands of troops providing security in the area around the Capitol to use lethal force.

National Guard troops stationed at US Capitol cleared to use lethal force



Following the riot at the U.S. Capitol, security has ballooned on Capitol Hill in preparation for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and to quell and prevent any repeat violence from pro-Trump activists or other radicals seeking to cause chaos.

Authorities initially activated a few thousand unarmed National Guard troops for security, noting that they were serving at the Capitol in a support role. But that changed this week.

Since the Jan. 6 riot, government officials have become increasingly concerned over security in the days leading up to Inauguration Day — both in the District of Columbia and at capitols in all 50 states — as the FBI has warned of threats of violence across the nation.

In response to the credible threats of violence, federal officials ordered 20,000 National Guard troops to the nation's capital, according to U.S. News & World Report.

On Tuesday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized the thousands of troops providing security in the area around the Capitol to use lethal force, New York Times reported.

"On January 12, 2021, National Guardsmen were given authorization to be armed in support of the U.S. Capitol Police to protect the U.S. Capitol and individual members of Congress and their staff," D.C. National Guard said in a statement cited by U.S. News & World Report.

"Guardsmen are trained in the use of lethal and less-than-lethal force, de-escalation techniques, as well as the use of protective equipment. This is standard for civil disturbance response missions," the statement continued. "The National Guard is proud to support the Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and Park Police who are leading the security efforts during the events for the 59th Presidential Inauguration."

The move was "requested by federal authorities and authorized by the Secretary of the Army," Military.com reported. The National Guard Bureau did not specify what weapons the troops would be carrying.

McCarthy made his decision after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) "demanded that the Pentagon take a more muscular posture after a mob, egged on by President Trump last week, breached the Capitol," the Times said.

According the the Times, Defense Department officials are worried about protests planned for Inauguration Day, saying that 16 groups have registered to stage protests, most of them "hard-line supporters" of President Donald Trump. And some of the groups have stated they will be armed, despite the fact that firearms are illegal in the district.

Report: National Guard briefed on improvised explosive device threat in DC



United States National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C., have been told to prepare for the possibility that individuals plotting violence in the Capitol during and around President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration may use improvised explosive devices like those found during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Two Guardsmen who were reportedly briefed on the matter told Politico that law enforcement officials believe the pipe bombs discovered at the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters were not isolated events. The individual(s) who planted those bombs have not yet been identified by authorities. The FBI has posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the perpetrators.

In anticipation of armed protests on Inauguration Day, National Guard troops have been authorized to bear arms in the Capitol. A "significant majority" of troops are carrying M-4 rifles and many are also armed with M-9 handguns, Politico reports.

"Our primary objective is to provide support to local authorities," said Guard spokesperson Tracy O'Grady Walsh. While deployed, the Guard will be tasked with crowd management, traffic control, parking coordination and medical and logistical support to local authorities.

"The public's safety is our top priority," she added.

Local and federal officials say as many as 20,000 National Guard troops will be deployed in the Capitol for security purposes. The District of Columbia has received commitments from the Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York National Guards to send reinforcements, WTTG-TV reports. Other states will send troops as well.

In the week since the Jan. 6 riots, the Guard has constructed a 7-foot tall non-scalable wall around the perimeter of the Capitol building. Armed troops are stationed in the halls of the Capitol building.

Democratic lawmakers say they have been briefed by law enforcement on three plans for demonstrations in the Capitol that could potentially turn violent. One of these plans involves a call to arms for thousands of armed "patriots" who want to attempt to surround the Capitol building and prevent Democratic lawmakers from entering, according to Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) who described the briefing to CNN.

On Wednesday, the Daily Beast reported that the Secret Service has issued an intelligence briefing warning of additional armed protests as well. The briefing, which was unclassified but not distributed outside of law enforcement, states that one demonstration is scheduled to take place before the inauguration and that the organizers were encouraging attendees to bring weapons.

Federal and local law enforcement and the National Guard are working to ensure the safety of everyone in Washington, D.C., and other state capitals that may experience protests.