8 arrested as protest disrupts Grand Floral Parade

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Despite a protest that led to the arrests of eight people, city officials and organizers said the Grand Floral Parade was a success.

When the parade began at 10 a.m., Portland police said they were aware of "a few dozen people on the sidewalk" near NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Pacific Avenue who were "motivated to block the parade." Officials said liaison officers offered to work with the group to be a contact point with parade organizers, but warned the protesters "not to disrupt" the parade.

Despite their initial agreement, the protesters began blocking some marching bands and floats, got pushed back by the PPB Bike Squad and "then began to get verbally hostile," officials said.

Around 11:15 a.m., "a handful of protesters pushed through the officers on the line and laid down on the parade route." That's when officers moved in and arrested the eight people, who range in age from 18-38. All of them were booked for disorderly conduct.

One of them, 34-year-old Rio C. Moncrief of Portland, was also booked for harassment and interfering with a Peace Officer. Police said Moncrief splashed a beverage on officers during the protest.

Another woman was detained but not booked, officials said.

PPB Chief Bob Day said it was a beautiful day for a parade. He also said he was "grateful for the professional police response to the brief interruption by a group intent on interfering with this community event.”