Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) condemned the antifa and anarchists after a night of riots in the city on New Year’s Eve.
Speaking at a news conference on New Year’s Day, the mayor said the protesters caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage by breaking windows, starting fires and painting properties in downtown Portland on Thursday night, said the local CBS affiliate. KOIN.
Wheeler asked during his press conference: “Why would a group of mostly white, young and some middle-aged men destroy the livelihood of others struggling to survive?”
According to police, some protesters allegedly used Molotov cocktails on Thursday night, causing thousands of dollars in damage to downtown property.
Since then, the mayor has been in contact with Multnomah County district attorney Mike Schmidt, calling for more prosecutions and accountability for “antifa radicals and anarchists” who seek to damage and devastate the city, which suffered dozens of nights of violent protests in 2020 .
“My good faith efforts to slow the escalation were met with continued violence and even contempt for radical antifa and anarchists,” said Wheeler. “In response, it will be necessary to use additional tools and push the limits of the tools we already have to end the destruction of crime and violence.”
Wheeler has committed to three counter-approaches to dealing with violent protesters in the city, including asking federal, state, municipal and local authorities “to come together to deal with anarchist violence as soon as possible”.
He also asked the state legislature to increase the penalties for repeat offenders, adding that he believes that people convicted of criminal destruction should be “forced to meet with those whose business they have damaged”.
Portland Mayor’s comments mark a drastic change in the tone of his statements throughout 2020, when protesters ravaged a nearby court for more than 100 nights, partly motivated by outrage over George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody in May .
President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls the second round of the Georgia Senate ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets. Judge rejects Gohmert’s electoral process against Pence Former Republican Party senator suggests forming a new party, calls Trump the ‘master’ of Republicans MORE asked Wheeler to allow him to send federal troops to help contain protests in the city over the summer, but the mayor denied the president’s offer.