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Protesters kick in door at Oregon Capitol, arrest made


Protesters shatter glass doors at Oregon Capitol - Image courtesy Representative Breese-Iverson’s office
Protesters shatter glass doors at Oregon Capitol - Image courtesy Representative Breese-Iverson’s office
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Oregon State Police arrested a person Monday afternoon after they reportedly attempted to break into the state Capitol building.

Footage from Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson’s office shows protesters kicking and breaking the windows of the front door.

RELATED | Protest at Oregon Capitol declared unlawful assembly

OSP said that a suspect was taken into custody. They identified him as 35-year-old Jeremiah Pruitt. Police are looking for 40-year-old Jeremy Roberts, who they said also tried to get inside the Capitol and attacked two reporters.

Warning: Profanity

The contentious moment played out around 1:30 p.m.

In the video, you can see a small group push a photographer, and then a few minutes later, a woman in a pink jacket screams through a megaphone without wearing a mask. It wasn't clear what she said.

"The chanting was really, Let us in. Let us be part of the public process," said Bryan Iverson, chief of staff for Breese-Iverson, in a video interview. "They were definitely anti-[Gov.] Kate Brown."

The protest outside the Capitol building started Monday morning around 8:30 a.m., billed as a "Reopen Oregon Rally," which coincided with the Legislature's third special session of this year.

Some protesters in the group moved inside the building at one point. OSP said multiple officers were sprayed with some sort of chemical agent and they are still seeking the person responsible.

By 9:30 a.m. an unlawful assembly was declared and Salem Police assisted OSP with clearing protesters out of the building. Officers were sprayed with bear mace in a separate incident, for which one person was arrested.

READ MORE | Man sprayed police with bear spray at the Oregon Capitol, state police say

"When it gets into the physical violence there where, you know, tearing down the building and stuff, that was really, I think, it becomes unacceptable," said Bryan Iverson.

Once protesters were moved outside and off government property the demonstration started to subside going into the afternoon, though some people still remained in the area.

Salem mayor Chuck Bennett released a statement after Monday's protest writing in part:

“Our City is home to the State Capitol, the seat of government for Oregon. This makes us a host for many groups and activities in which people exercise their rights of free speech to be heard by those elected to serve, the Legislature, and the Governor. We take that responsibility – and public safety – seriously, regardless of the content of the speech or the ideology of the groups. When free speech crosses over to physical threats to elected officials, law enforcement, and residents, the City will act to protect public safety.”

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