Outdoor mask requirements will go into effect in Oregon this Friday



Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) has announced that starting on Friday masks will be required outdoors in public areas where people cannot engage in social distancing, irrespective of vaccination status.

Under Brown's direction, the Oregon Health Authority rule will require masks in outdoor settings where people from separate households cannot consistently stay physically distanced, according to a press release.

Today we have 1,000 COVID-19 patients in our hospitals. I’m continuing to take actions to protect Oregonians and sa… https://t.co/6yZsEFoMPf

— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) 1629835180.0

Although this will not apply to outdoor groups located at private residences, the OHA recommends mask usage in that scenario as well when people from separate households do not consistently stay socially distanced.

There will be various exceptions to the outdoor masking requirements, some of which include kids younger than 5-years-old, people participating in or practicing competitive sports, and people who are living outside, like the homeless.

The outdoor masking requirements come in addition to indoor masking requirements that are already in effect in the state.

"Current data suggest the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor settings is minimal," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "In general, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors. Fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised."

One person responded to a tweet from Brown about the outdoor mask requirements by describing the move as "absolutely psychotic overreach."

"I'm as pro-mask and pro-vaccine as they come, but this seems insane," another person tweeted.

But others were pleased about the move.

"Thank you for taking action on these tough decisions. No matter what you read here, most people in Oregon support your mandates to keep us all a little safer," a tweet stated.

"Thank you Gov. Brown. I just wish everyone would take this pandemic seriously," another tweet said.

Portland protester catches on fire after rioters throw Molotov cocktails and launch fireworks at police



Saturday marked the 100th consecutive day of protests in Portland, but things escalated into violence, and police declared a riot after agitators threw Molotov cocktails and launched fireworks at law enforcement officers.

Hundreds of people gathered at Ventura Park in southeast Portland on around 7 p.m. on Saturday, including many dressed in all black clothing. Some of them donned helmets, gas masks, body armor, and a few were equipped with large shields.

Around 9 p.m., the crowd marched towards the east precinct, but Portland police stopped the procession. Police said the rioters then engaged in "tumultuous and violent conduct."

Earliest I’ve ever seen it declared a riot. Teargas and fireworks already in full force, and this was just shortly… https://t.co/PvvXFSkqOA
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1599370321.0

At about 9:15 p.m., rioters began throwing fire bombs, shooting illegal fireworks, mortars, and hurling rocks at police officers. One rioter had a "wrist-rocket" type of slingshot. A Portland police sergeant was "struck by a commercial grade firework, which burned through his glove and injured his hand," according to the Portland Police Bureau. Portland police responded with crowd control munitions, including tear gas and impact weapons.

It’s like a war zone in the residential area of SE Portland where antifa are rioting tonight. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/UkgoL4pRPB
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1599367152.0

One of the Molotov cocktails landed in front of the officers and ignited a large fire. A protester caught on fire from the inferno and frantically attempted to put out the flame by running around the street. Police say the Portland fire and rescue medics offered treatment to the man who caught on fire. "The injured person was later taken to a hospital by private vehicle," authorities said.

(Content Warning: The following videos contain graphic content):

Fire bombs were thrown at officers, injuring at least one community member. Police are trying to restore peace and… https://t.co/KDQTqEfmWE
— Portland Police (@Portland Police)1599369713.0
A man just got lit on fire. Chaotic night in Portland already #PortlandRiots #Portland https://t.co/iWOP0is6MQ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1599369485.0
Graphic: #Antifa rioters throw a Molotov cocktail in direction of police in SE Portland. It lands next to people, s… https://t.co/mwLezqtskw
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1599367283.0

Oregon state police troopers were also patrolling Portland on Saturday night. Last week, Oregon state police troopers were deputized by U.S. Marshals. The deputization lasts a year.

The state troopers will work alongside Portland police as well as "protect and defend federal government buildings and personnel during a civil disturbance" when necessary, Kevin Sonoff, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said.

That means that an Oregon state police trooper can arrest someone for a federal crime and then turn the case over to a federal prosecutor instead of a state prosecutor.

This is a significant development since Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Shmidt announced last month that his office would not prosecute certain crimes during the ongoing protests. Included in those crimes that his office refused to prosecute is interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer, disorderly conduct in the second degree, criminal trespass in the first and second degree, escape in the third degree, harassment, and riot (unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list).

Oregon State Troopers are also out for the face-offs on Night 100 of the Portland Protests #Portland #PortlandRiots… https://t.co/BkEKpzzWjT
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1599383802.0

Rioters lit dumpsters, garbage cans, and wooden pallets on fire in the streets. Portland police said that over 50 people were arrested during Saturday's civil unrest.

Police sprint in and make arrests of antifa rioters on the street in SE Portland. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/rEj8TbD1RW
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1599372788.0

Saturday's riot came a day after the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office unsealed court documents that give new insights into last weekend's lethal shooting in Portland. The unsealed documents show that self-described Antifa member, Michael Forest Reinoehl, targeted Patriot Prayer members Aaron "Jay" Danielson and Chandler Pappas. Danielson was shot dead on Aug. 29.

A crowd of about 200 held a vigil for Danielson on Saturday near Portland, where Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson called for members not to seek revenge for Danielson's death.

"I know that Jay would not want that," Gibson said. "Jay wants us to stand up for what we believe in, and he does not want any more violence, guys. He does not want any more violence."

Gibson also called for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) to apologize to Danielson's family. Gibson said Wheeler enabled "a culture of lawlessness" that he claimed resulted in the death of Danielson.

The speaker tells the group not to commit any acts of violence going forward @fox12oregon https://t.co/VhXHSZct4n
— Bridget Chavez (@Bridget Chavez)1599348891.0
The group is now calling for @tedwheeler and @OregonGovBrown to apologize to the family of Danielson. @fox12oregon https://t.co/aalJ07o9HZ
— Bridget Chavez (@Bridget Chavez)1599350922.0

74 rioters facing federal charges for crimes committed during Portland riots



The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that 74 people are facing federal charges for crimes committed during violent riots in Portland that have been happening since late May.

"For more than 90 consecutive nights, Portland has been home to large demonstrations and protests against police use of force and anti-Black racism," the Department of Justice statement reads. "On many nights, after peaceful demonstrations end, various public and private buildings have been the target of vandalism and destruction. Local, state, and federal law enforcement working to protect these buildings and ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators have been subjected to threats and assaults from violent agitators while performing their duties."

"Violent agitators have hijacked any semblance of First Amendment protected activity, engaging in violent criminal acts and destruction of public safety," U.S. Attorney Willias said. "The U.S. Attorney's Office and our federal law enforcement partners are expeditiously working with local and state law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecute these individuals that are disrupting the rule of law in our communities and physically attacking our law enforcement officers and destroying property. Violent agitators not only delay real reform, but make our community less safe by keeping law enforcement from responding to other critical calls for service."

Charges include arson, destruction of federal property, assaulting a federal officer, unlawful use of a drone, and failing to obey lawful orders. You can find a list of the defendants and charges below.

The federal charges come at a time when President Donald Trump and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) are quarreling over the use of federal law enforcement in Oregon's largest city that has been rocked by civil unrest.

On Aug. 25, Trump urged Wheeler and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) to accept federal law enforcement.

"We again request Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown), the Governor of Oregon, and Mayor @TedWheeler of Portland, to call up the National Guard like should have been done 3 months ago," Trump tweeted. "They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators 'peaceful protestors'. Come back into the real world! The Federal Government is ready to end this problem immediately upon your request."

...They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators “peaceful protestors”. Come back into the real world! The… https://t.co/Mqr6GeMUQp
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1598375682.0

Brown replied, "Oregon isn't interested in a role in your political theater, @realDonaldTrump. The @OregonGuard is focused on fighting wildfires, distributing PPE & helping with unemployment calls. I'd love to discuss what we actually need: financial resources, N-95 masks & testing supplies."

Oregon isn't interested in a role in your political theater, @realDonaldTrump. The @OregonGuard is focused on fight… https://t.co/GkgXaSwRy4
— Governor Kate Brown (@Governor Kate Brown)1598386755.0

Wheeler sent a letter to Trump on Friday, declining the president's offer to sent federal officers to Portland to help quell the riots.

"Dear President Trump. Yet again, you said you offered to aid Portland by sending in federal law enforcement to our city," Wheeler's letter read. "On behalf of the City of Portland: No thanks. We don't need your politics of division and demagoguery."

"When you sent the Feds to Portland last month, you made the situation far worse," Wheeler said. "Your offer to repeat that disaster is a cynical attempt to stoke fear and distract us from the real work of our city. In Portland, we are focused on coming together as a community to solve the serious challenges we face due to systemic racism, a global pandemic and an economic recession. Stay away, please."

Today, I sent this letter via email to @realDonaldTrump declining his recurring offer to aid Portland by sending f… https://t.co/QtUUQijTOj
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@Mayor Ted Wheeler)1598644179.0

Trump responded, "If the incompetent Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, doesn't get control of his city and stop the Anarchists, Agitators, Rioters and Looters, causing great danger to innocent people, we will go in and take care of matters the way they should have been taken care of 100 days ago!"

If the incompetent Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, doesn’t get control of his city and stop the Anarchists, Agitato… https://t.co/ZR5rjAet0t
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1598664783.0

As of Aug. 27, Portland Police have made 217 arrests at protests in the month of August, nearly three times the 77 arrests they made in all of July, according to the Portland Police Bureau. "About half of those occurred in the last week, when police declared riots five out of seven nights," The Oregonian reported on Thursday.

Friday marked the 93rd straight day of protests in Portland. A riot was declared by Portland Police after vandals set fire to the police union building.

Also on Friday night, Black Lives Matter protesters chained themselves together as a demonstration in Wheeler's apartment building lobby.

The 74 defendants federally charged by the DOJ include:

  • Edward Carubis, 24, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 1, 2020;
  • Rowan Olsen, 19, is charged (photos available) with creating a hazard on federal property, disorderly conduct, and failing to obey a lawful order on July 2, 2020;
  • Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, of Oceanside, California, is charged with destruction of federal property on July 4, 2020;
  • Gretchen Blank, 29, of Seattle, Washington, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Andrew Faulkner, 24, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Christopher Fellini, 31, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Theodore Matthee-O'Brien, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Cody Porter, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Taimane Teo, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Benjamin Wood-Pavich, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
  • Jacob Gaines, 23, a Texas resident, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 11, 2020;
  • Lillith Grin, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 12, 2020;
  • Benjamin Bolen, 36, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 13, 2020;
  • Kevin Weier, 36, is charged with attempted arson on July 13, 2020;
  • Wyatt Ash-Milby, 18, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Jerusalem Callahan, 24, is charged with damaging government property on July 21, 2020;
  • Zachary Duffly, 45, is charged with creating a disturbance on July 21, 2020;
  • Caleb Ehlers, 23, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Paul Furst, 22, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Jennifer Kristiansen, 38, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 21, 2020;
  • Ella Miller, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Marie Sager, 27, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Giovanni Bondurant, 19, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
  • Bailey Dreibelbis, 22, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
  • Gabriel Huston, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
  • Joseph Lagalo, 37, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 22, 2020;
  • Taylor Lemons, 32, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
  • Joseph Ybarra, 21, is charged with arson on July 22, 2020;
  • David Hazan, 24, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
  • Nicholas Kloiber, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
  • Cameron Knutson, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
  • Carly Ballard, 34, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 24, 2020;
  • David Bouchard, 36, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 24, 2020;
  • Dakota Eastman, 30, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
  • Josslynn Kreutz, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
  • Ezra Meyers, 18, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
  • Mark Rolycanov, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
  • Pablo Avvocato, 26, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Douglas Dean, 34, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Rebecca Mota Gonzales, 37, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Thomas Johnson, 33, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Richard Lindstedt, 33, is charged with violating national defense airspace on July 25, 2020;
  • Nathan Onderdonk-Snow, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Stephen O'Donnell, 65, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Joshua Webb, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
  • Jeffree Cary, 30, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • John Tyler Gabriel, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • Noelle Mandolfo, 30, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • Patrick Stafford, 35, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • Travis Williams, 27, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • Caleb Wills, 29, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
  • Brodie Storey, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 27, 2020;
  • Edward Schinzing, 32, is charged (photos available) with arson on July 28, 2020;
  • James Hickerson, 54, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 28, 2020;
  • Ian Wolf, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order and creating a hazard on federal property on July 28, 2020;
  • Sabastian Dubar, 23, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
  • Jordan Johnson, 32, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
  • Evan Kriechbaum, 31, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
  • Christine Margaux, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
  • Gabriel Agard-Berryhill, 18, is charged (video available) with arson on July 30, 2020;
  • Isaiah Maza, 18, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 31, 2020;
  • Dakotah Horton, 24, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on August 17, 2020; and
  • Dakota Means, 20, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on August 24, 2020.