PORTLAND - Police took down several May Day protesters blocking downtown Portland streets Tuesday afternoon.
"Many members of the march have been very confrontational," Portland police said, noting at least 12 arrests had been made by early afternoon.
Two banks were among the targets of vandals in Southeast and downtown Portland.
Around 100 protesters gathered under the Burnside Bridge at noon Tuesday for a non-permitted event in solidarity with May Day marchers.
Around 1 p.m. police on bicycles moved in and arrested several people, physically taking them down to the ground.
Sky 8 video: Protesters taken down
Sgt. Pete Simpson said people openly disobeying the law and being defiant with officers were taken off the street and into custody.
A few people were initilally arrested by the mounted patrol after the group left the sidewalk. Several others were taken into custody and someone in the mob set off a smoke bomb.
The group later gathered briefly in Pioneer Courthouse Square before moving on down SW Broadway.
Video: Mounted patrol makes arrest
Occupy Portland helped promote the general strike march, in solidarity with striking workers elsewhere and organized labor.
Police warned downtown businesses demonstrators may try to occupy banks, parks or vacant buildings. Many hired private security patrols.
