Trump supporters, counter-protesters clash in Portland

Fights broke out in downtown Portland Saturday night as a large caravan of supporters of President Donald Trump drove through city, clashing with counter-protesters.

Oregon's largest city has been site of nightly protests for three months since police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Police said y had made several arrests Saturday night.

caravan of about 600 vehicles headed for downtown after a late afteron rally in parking lot of Clackamas Town Center shopping mall. Many of rally-goers waved Trump flags.

“This rally is t a protest,” Alex Kyzik, an organizer, told crowd, according to Oregonian/Oregonlive.com. “This rally is a celebration of a great president.”

caravan left for downtown about 5:15 p.m.

y were greeted by Black Lives Matter protesters who had gared downtown for ir own rally. Video showed sporadic fighting, as well as Trump supporters firing paintball pellets at opponents as counter-protesters threw things at Trump caravan.

“re have been some instances of violence between demonstrators and counterdemonstrators,” Portland Police said via Twitter. “Officers have intervened and in some cases made arrests.”

Saturday's rally was third consecutive weekend that pro-Trump demonstrators converged in and around Portland, leading to clashes with counter protesters, Oregonian/Oregonlive.com reported.

Black Lives Matter demonstrations usually target police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while city’s mayor and some in Black community have decried violence, saying it’s counterproductive.

Early Saturday morning, fires set outside a police union building that is a frequent site for protests prompted police to declare a riot.

An accelerant was used to ignite a mattress and or debris that was laid against door of Portland Police Association building, police said in a statement. At least one dumpster had also been set on fire in street nearby.

commotion followed a sit-in in lobby of Portland mayor’s condominium building Friday night.