Portland Mayor is Fed Up with the Protests
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) has had enough of the protests.
“The community is sick and tired of people engaging in criminal destruction and violence and doing it under the guise of some noble cause,” said Wheeler on Monday following an incident at the courthouse that resulted in property damage and several arrests. The city has already had to erect fences and call in federal officers to protect the courthouse after spending $1.5 million to repair damage caused by protestors.
Scott Erik Asphaug, a lawyer who works inside the courthouse, says he isn’t “intimidated” by the graffiti and broken windows. “We do not confuse the voices of the many with the shouts of the few who hope to hold our city hostage by petty crime and violence.”
The protests in Portland began last summer with the killing of George Floyd.
They have occurred on a regular basis ever since. More often than not, the incidents involve arson, property damage, and assault.
Ironically, the protests in Portland are calling to defund the police even as they commit crimes that require police interference. But according to authorities, the perpetrators are part of a small, anarchist organization that has nothing to do with the peaceful protests that also take place in the city.
“This was not a protest group,” Assistant Police Chief Chris Davis confirmed. He was referring to the incident at the courthouse last week. “This was a group of people who have come to believe that they are entitled to damage other people’s property, threaten community members, and assault police officers.”
Police were able to control the situation at the courthouse using a technique called “kettling.”
This is when police corral protestors into a small area and identify them one by one as they escort them out. Using this method, police were able to identify and confiscate an array of weapons. They found smoke bombs, loaded guns, a dagger, a slingshot, and spray paint.
“My observation is that tactic was used successfully, it was used peacefully, and it ended what could have been further criminal destruction in the city,” said Wheeler.
The ACLU says kettling is “aggressive” and “indiscriminate.” Though in my opinion, anyone who participates in protests should prepare for the worst.
“I feel bad for the peaceful protestors, but I think you should know if you are in a situation where people start doing things that are illegal, your First Amendment rights will not magically save you from being asked to give identification,” explains Laura Appleman, a law professor at Willamette University.
Moving forward, Wheeler has urged residents to denounce the violence no matter what their political views. “I don’t care if you’re on the political left or the political right. If you’re engaged in acts of violence or criminal destruction, that is unacceptable,” he said.
Wheeler is working closely with police and the District Attorney’s office to hold criminals responsible. He has asked lawmakers to approve harsher penalties for protestors. “My good-faith efforts at deescalation have been met with scorn by Antifa and anarchists bent on destruction…It’s time to push back harder.”
Sources:
Portland Mayor: Community is ‘sick and tired’ of criminal destruction, violence
Mayor of Portland: Violence, criminal destruction is ‘unacceptable’
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Demands Harsher Criminal Penalties for Property Destruction
Mayor Wheeler says he supports ‘kettling’ tactic by Portland police
It’s about time !!!
No sir,
It’s not time to push back harder! It is way beyond time to do that. You should truthfully say “alright the election is over, now get lost or get arrested”. Truth in politics. Be sure to wear your masks. Great job mayor
Democrats suck period .
Now that you have chased all tourism away with failed policies then let’s get tough with these thugs. Well twinkle toes, the onset of this debacle may have been the time to act. Avoiding any travel thru Portland is a priority when going to the coast. Combine Portland and Seattle and you would have a wonderful two holer.
Wheeler should not be in office , he is a threat to American people.
Better late than never!
Sounds like the mayor should have a TALK with that so-called vp to end this destruction, she is ALL FOR it…..whatever comes out of the WH needs to be adhered to….We would NOT have an open border down South if it wasn’t for the buffons in Washington…
I agree. They are a disaster
Oh my, after a year or more he’s taking action.
He should be charged with Malfeasance In Office, Convicted and HUNG FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
Glad he’s finally “unwoke” but it took far too long. Anybody with a brain and courage enough to be called a racist by these criminals should have thrown down the gauntlet on day 1 of these ridiculous, democrat-approved protests that have wrecked city after city in our country. There is no defending blm or antifa – they are terrorist organizations determined to tear apart the fabric of this country. This garbage will continue as long as Joe (Defund the Police!) Biden is in the White House.
Why wasn’t he FED UP SEVERAL months before this time? Is it because it didn’t fit his Left Wing CRITERIA . . . until NOW?!? Recall and IMPEACH him for DERELICTION of Duty NOW! One Enlightened Patriot. Team Trump And His Allies 2020 – MAGA (WE’RE NOT going away!).
Well, It looks like the mayor of poorland (Portland) finally grew a pair of balls.
How much has this cost the residents and the city to have had to put up with these people? Way more than what it costs to run a police department I’ll bet.