Portland Mayor Denounces Federal Officers Dealing with Violent Protesters

OPB has more news on the mayor resisting the assistance of the feds:

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler amped up his critique of federal law enforcement dispatched to Portland Tuesday, tweeting that the officers were bringing violence and “life-threatening tactics” to the city’s streets.

“The best thing they can do is stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether,” Wheeler tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “Our goal is to end these violent demonstrations quickly and safely.” 

Earlier in the day, Wheeler had taken to Twitter to respond to President Donald Trump’s remarks that the federal government had done “a great job” quelling protests and could do it again with ease.

The mayor wrote that Trump’s “heavy-handed” approach had led to a serious injury over the weekend and inflamed already high tensions.

The comments were the mayor’s most direct public criticism yet of the presence of federal officers, who have been dispatched by the federal government to protect federal buildings and personnel. 

Over the weekend, after one of these officers severely injured a protester, Wheeler released a statement saying the injury “should not have happened.” Wheeler asked the federal government to be “thorough and transparent” with their investigation into the incident. During a press conference on Monday, Wheeler said he had no problem with the officers protecting their facilities, but wanted to see them stay off the streets where he said they were escalating an already tense situation. 

On Tuesday, Wheeler wrote that he had spoken with Chad Wolf, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, who had asked to speak about the protests and offer the agency’s help, according to Wheeler.

But the mayor said he declined. 

“I told the Acting Secretary that my biggest immediate concern is the violence federal officers brought to our streets in recent days, and the life-threatening tactics his agents use,” he wrote. “We do not need or want their help.”

According to the mayor, it's not the protesters causing violence, it's the authorities!

But isn't that the current Democrat way?

Blame Trump and the police for everything.

Take a look at the DHS Secretary's response to the mayor:

The New York Post further details the secretary's response to the violence in Portland:

The head of the Department of Homeland Security is denouncing ongoing violence in Portland, ripping the protesters in Oregon’s largest city as “lawless anarchists” who have wreaked havoc for nearly 50 consecutive days.

Acting Secretary Chad Wolf issued a lengthy statement Thursday hours before meeting with federal law enforcement officials in Portland, where a “violent mob” has overtaken the city as local political leaders “refuse to restore order” amid 47 straight days of protests, he said.

“Each night, lawless anarchists destroy and desecrate property, including the federal courthouse, and attack the brave law enforcement officers protecting it,” Wolf wrote. “A federal courthouse is a symbol of justice – to attack is to attack America.”

Wolf’s statement also accused local and state leaders of “placing blame” on law enforcement officers while simultaneously requesting fewer cops, resulting in a “failed response” that has only served to bolster the “violent mob” each day.

“This siege can end if state and local officials decide to take appropriate action instead of refusing to enforce the law,” Wolf wrote. “DHS will not abdicate its solemn duty to protect federal facilities and those within them.”

Mayor Ted Wheeler, meanwhile, tweeted Thursday he was aware that DHS leadership was in Portland.

“We haven’t been invited to meet with them, and if we were, we would decline,” Wheeler wrote.

Look at some of the tweets showcasing the absolute chaos erupting in Portland right now:

You can also watch this video of protesters completely tearing down a park fence in the city:

So Mayor Ted Wheeler, what was that again about violence coming from the federal agents?