PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A week ago, on Friday, May 29, downtown Portland was hit with vandalism, looting, and fires as protests turned violent. Businesses that were damaged are still cleaning up, and others are now preparing in case things take a turn again this coming weekend.
The business owners KOIN 6 News spoke to on Friday both fully supported the peaceful protests and have even participated in them. They want systemic change and justice. In the meantime, they are taking steps to protect their businesses that have been in their families for decades.
The Persian House restaurant on SW Morrison Street had its front window shattered last Friday. Rioters broke in, artwork was stolen, and someone even turned the gas stove burners on in the kitchen. That night, the Houranpay family watched on the news as rioters got closer and closer to their restaurant.
“My brother that night kept saying, ‘we got to go, we got to go, the police are saying it’s dangerous,'” described Sara Houranpay, whose father opened the restaurant after he immigrated to Portland from Iran. “So we’re all walking away and I turn back to see where my dad was and he was locking the door, and I’m looking at this huge, exposed window and I’m kind of confused. So I just walked up, put my hand on his back and really lightly said, ‘Dad, the whole business is exposed, why are you locking the door? And his hand just shook, and he said, ‘I’ve locked this door for 30 years.'”
Houranpay said the damage that followed was shocking to see, but they’re staying positive because so many others have rushed to support them.
“We’ll be here working on our business, being able to protect our business, but I’m hopeful,” said Houranpay. “I’m hopeful people in this community are going to keep things peaceful and I’m hopeful that we’re going to make sure all the focus is on the cause and that Black lives matter, and it doesn’t go on like this, businesses that are affected or looted or vandalized.”
They’re hoping they won’t see this kind of vandalism again downtown, but they and others are taking precautions. Over on Clay and Park, several businesses had windows broken as well. Sesame Donuts boarded up their storefront on Friday.
“We’ve never done this in the whole time that I’ve worked in the donut industry with my family, since the beginning,” said Yussef Fakih.
“There is only so much you can do and we’re hoping that people slow down, stop, don’t distract themselves from the message at hand,” said Fakih. “But as a business, I mean, a broken window is a broken window, so we can handle that. Just don’t distract from the message is the important part.”
They are also hopeful people will remain peaceful and said, “We’re all in this together as a community.” Most of the demonstrations in Portland protesting the killing of George Floyd and other acts of police brutality and racial injustice have been peaceful in the days that have followed.
The Persian House restaurant started a GoFundMe campaign in the wake of last Friday’s damage. It has already surpassed its original $10,000 goal.
“My parents went from being defeated to uplifted,” said Houranpay. “It’s heartwarming.”
They plan to donate anything extra to other businesses in need or organizations that fight racism.
