George Washington statue is covered in a burning American flag before being toppled by up to 40 Portland protesters in Oregon (6 Pics)

A statue of George Washington with a burning American flag draped across it has been toppled by protesters in Portland, Oregon.

The statue, which stood on the lawn of the German American Society in Northeast Portland, was pulled down by a group of about 30 to 40 protesters on Thursday night. 

Footage of the incident, which took place on the eve of Juneteenth, showed the Washington statue draped in a US flag that had been set alight just moments before it was toppled.

Washington, the first US president, owned hundreds of African-descended slaves. He also had a torturous relationship with Native Americans and a lifelong pursuit of their land. 

The demonstrators placed a sticker on the head of the statue that read 'You are on Native land' and also spray-painted the statue's pedestal with the phrase 'Genocidal colonist'. 

It was also tagged with '1619' - a reference to the year when slaves were first brought to America. 

A statue of George Washington with a burning American flag draped across it was toppled by protesters in Portland, Oregon on Thursday night

Police said a smaller group had split from several hundred peaceful protesters and threw hot dogs at police and cut a fence surrounding the Justice Center, which has been a flashpoint for conflicts between demonstrators and police. 

Another group set a fire around the Washington statue before tearing it down.  

Those responsible draped the fallen statue in a second US flag and also set that alight. 

The group who brought the statue down scattered before police arrived at the scene, according to local media reports.  

Protesters have been tearing down statues across the country as part of anti-racism demonstrations fueled by George Floyd's death in Minneapolis last month. 

That specific George Washington statue dates back to 1926. 

Anger over racial injustice has broadened in recent weeks to target founding fathers, colonialists, monarchs and explorers, who in some cases destroyed or enslaved local populations across the world in the European scramble for empire and treasure.

In Washington's case, he was known to have owned hundreds of slaves on his plantations. He also supported measures passed by Congress to protect slavery in a bid to preserve national unity at the time. He later freed his slaves in a 1799 will. 

Washington also tried to assimilate Native Americans into Anglo-American culture and vowed bloodshed if they refused.

He tried to combat resistance from Native Americans with violent conflict.  

Images from the scene show the statue lying face down on the ground and covered in graffiti that read: 'Genocidal colonist'

The George Washington incident took place on the 21st day of protests in the city. Thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Portland every night for three weeks following Floyd's death

His Indian policy was primarily about acquiring indigenous land and he became known to Native Americans as Town Destroyer. 

As recently as this week, California lawmakers decided to remove a Christopher Columbus statue from the state Capitol and concrete barriers were installed around a Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia. 

It comes as a statue of Thomas Jefferson that was based outside Portland's Jefferson High School was torn down earlier this week. 

The base of the statue had the words 'slave owner' and Floyd's name spray painted across it. 

The George Washington incident took place on the 21st day of protests in the city. 

Thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Portland every night for three weeks following Floyd's death.

Mayor Ted Wheeler announced this week that Juneteenth will be a paid city holiday starting Friday. 

The date of June 19 is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the US.   

It comes after a statue of Thomas Jefferson that was based outside Portland's Jefferson High School was torn down earlier this week

The base of the Jefferson statue had the words 'slave owner' and Floyd's name spray painted across it