On my way home from the Yarmouth Clam Festival and ready to tuck the Q Van away for the night, I noticed blue lights everywhere. A protest had shut down Commercial Street. I went to see what it was all about.

The group Portland Racial Justice Congress wants Portland's police chief that black and brown lives matter and for Portland police to wear body cameras.

WJBQ.com
WJBQ.com
loading...

Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said of the remark:

Of course their lives matter. Why wouldn't they matter?I hear a group of people that say they're angry, they're frustrated, they feel oppressed, and because of that, they want to say, 'Black lives matter too. Pay attention when these things happen in our society.' And from a law enforcement perspective, I say of course they matter.

It was kinda crazy and I got out my camera around 10pm at night.

The protesters blocked Commercial Street for about three hours before police arrested some and told them to move to the sidewalk. Many in the circle in the above video were arrested.

The protesters moved to the Portland police station. Some protesters pounded on cars in the area, but they called for non-violence.

More From Q97.9