Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has blasted US President Donald Trump for his suggestion of sending the National Guard to the city to deal with protests there, calling on the president to “stay away, please.”
Trump has repeatedly called on Portland to accept federal assistance following three months of protests against police brutality and racial injustice that were sparked by the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.
“Yet again, you said you offered to aid Portland by sending in federal law enforcement to our city. On behalf of the City of Portland: No thanks,” Wheeler wrote in a letter to President Trump on Friday.
“We don’t need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you. We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic. And we know you’ve reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection,” he added.
Protests across the US have erupted again in recent days after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week. Blake was shot multiple times in the back as his children looked on. His family said he is paralyzed from the waist down. Police also handcuffed him in hospital.
The brutal shooting of the African-American man has added to the nationwide anger across the US over racism and police brutality.
Most of the protests in Portland have remained peaceful, though some demonstrations early on devolved into riots, leading to threats from Trump to send the National Guard to restore order.
On Friday, Trump renewed that suggestion after the National Guard arrived in Kenosha to deal with some violent protests there.
“Success: Since the National Guard moved into Kenosha, Wisconsin, two days ago, there has been NO FURTHER VIOLENCE, not even a small problem. When legally asked to help by local authorities, the Federal Government will act and quickly succeed. Are you listening Portland?” he tweeted.
Success: Since the National Guard moved into Kenosha, Wisconsin, two days ago, there has been NO FURTHER VIOLENCE, not even a small problem. When legally asked to help by local authorities, the Federal Government will act and quickly succeed. Are you listening Portland?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2020
The Portland mayor said that local law enforcement could handle the protests and that a past deployment of the National Guard to the city worsened the situation.
“There is no place for looting, arson, or vandalism in our city. There is no room here for racist violence or those who wish to bring their ideology of hate into our community. Those who commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted under the law,” he said.
“When you sent the Feds to Portland last month, you made the situation far worse. Your offer to repeat that disaster is a cynical attempt to stoke fear and distract us from the real work of our city,” he added. “Stay away, please.”
Floyd died after a white officer knelt on his neck and pinned him to the ground for nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25.
His death ignited the most widespread civil unrest in the US in decades and unleashed protests against police brutality and for racial justice in America and many world countries, rejuvenating the Black Lives Matter movement.
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