Portland man, former journalist, charged with federal hate crimes

Violent hate crimes have been on the rise in Oregon, especially against Black people, according to the state’s bias crime data
The man charged with arson and bias crimes in Multnomah County for setting fire to a mosque, and vandalizing two Jewish synagogues is now facing federal hate crime charges.

Federal prosecutors filed charges on Tuesday against Michael Bivins, 34, for his alleged end-of-April and early May racist crime spree. A person believed to be Bivins was recorded on security cameras setting fire to the Muslim Community Center of Portland. He allegedly smashed windows at Congregations Shir Tikvah and Beth Israel. He is also accused of smashing windows at a Black-owned restaurant and vandalizing Beth Israel with anti-Jewish graffiti.