The mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, said he wanted to listen to the concerns of protesters, so he ventured to the protest site on Wednesday night where he was soon the victim of teargas launched by federal officers.
The New York Times reports:
“Mr. Wheeler, who scrambled to put on goggles while denouncing what he called the “urban warfare” tactic of the federal agents, said he was outraged by the use of tear gas and that it was only making protesters more angry.
“I’m not going to lie — it stings; it’s hard to breathe,” Mr. Wheeler said. “And I can tell you with 100 percent honesty, I saw nothing which provoked this response.”
“He called it an “egregious overreaction” on the part of the federal officers, and not a de-escalation strategy.“
“It stings. It’s hard to breathe. I can tell you with 100% honesty I saw nothing that provoked this response. I’m not afraid but I am pissed off.” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler
The Oregonian writes Wheeler and his security detail spent three hours with protesters in downtown Portland.
“Wheeler pledged to stand beside protesters subjected to consistent force by federal law enforcement who have made the Portland protests a national storyline.
“The mayor told people he was raising alarms across the nation to warn other cities about what could unfold in their towns.”
The Portland City Council on Wednesday issued a ban for all city police employees to immediately stop cooperating with federal law enforcement.
President Trump has said he is sending federal troops to more cities including Chicago and Albuquerque.
