I would not doubt that the mayor had the police stand down.
UC berkeley two years or so ago while buildings were torched and windows smashed.
I went to work this morning at 4 am to pour concrete at Portland State University downtown They had us come in early so we could all get out of town before the riots. Yes the Portland police stand down and allow protests and hold the line at major property damgage. Complaints from local businesses did get them to do some limited control but it is pretty much a free for all. Even everyday behavior is like the wild west, they got these rental scooters all over town riding in traffic running lights, someone threw 90 of them in the river, people walk in front of semi trucks like zombies, poop on sidewalks, kids riding unlicensed mini bikes through the city, stabbings beatings shootings go often unreported in the news The cops are pretty beat down and just try to get through the day alive and not fired for enforcing the law