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Group of vandals smash windows and doors at Adidas headquarters in Portland

Nine people smashed a total of 50 windows and broke doors of buildings. A group claiming responsibility said it was in retaliation to the World Cup in Qatar.

PORTLAND, Ore. — A group of people wearing ski goggles and masks vandalized buildings at Adidas' North American headquarters in Portland early Sunday morning.

Nine people smashed windows and broke doors of buildings on the campus located on North Greeley Avenue around 1:48 a.m. on Nov. 20, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). A total of 50 windows were smashed. Multiple doors and windows were boarded up by Tuesday.

The vandals also splattered blue paint around the campus, according to PPB. Police could not release information about the estimated cost of the damage.

Officers who responded to the scene and PPB's Air Support unit did not locate any suspects.

A post from Abolition Media, published on their website Nov. 21, claimed responsibility for the vandalism and said it was in retaliation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

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The international soccer tournament kicked off on Nov. 20. Adidas is among multiple global companies partnering with FIFA on the event.

"The history of the World Cup is one of death and displacement. Every stadium stands upon the dead bodies of workers who built it," the post on Abolition Media claimed.

The author of the article went on to say, "We reject the logistics of global capitalism and the state, and the endless violence they create together."

FIFA's selection of Qatar to host the event has been controversial since it was announced more than a decade ago due to the Persian Gulf nation's dubious human rights record, a lack of pre-existing infrastructure and the deaths of migrant laborers. FIFA officials have also been accused of accepting bribes that influenced their decision to choose Qatar.

Adidas released the statement below to KGW and said it "condemns this violence."

"Adidas was not involved in the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar. We have been engaged with FIFA and other critical stakeholders, including the Qatari government and international human rights and labor advocacy groups, to improve the human rights situation for migrant workers. Additionally, we have strongly advocated for unrestricted access for all visitors regardless of nationality, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic background."

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