Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler was hit with tear gas fired by federal officers on Wednesday following a hostile “listening session” with protesters outside the federal courthouse.
Wheeler, a Democrat, faced jeers from the crowd, including demands for his resignation and chants of “do something,” who were livid that federal law enforcement officers come to the city in response to the unrest.
People have surrounded the mayor, cursing him and calling for resignation. pic.twitter.com/o0s1azbi2R
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
“I stand with you no matter what. We’re demanding (the federal officers) leave. It is an unconstitutional occupation. The tactics that are being used by the federal officers are abhorrent. They do not act with probable cause. People are not being told who they are being arrested by, and they’re being denied basic constitutional rights,” Wheeler said.
The protesters asked Wheeler if he supported abolishing the Portland Police Department. Wheeler said he did not want to get rid of all law enforcement and asserted he would not step down as police commissioner in favor of an anti-police councilwoman “at this time.”
Wheeler was met with boos, but the crowd demanded that he stay to prevent federal officers from using tear gas.
“I’m not going to leave,” Wheeler told the crowd. “If you get gassed, I’m getting gassed.”
Wheeler and the protesters were hit with tear gas near the federal courthouse, outside of which a pile of debris was set on fire, after which the mayor left the area.
The Portland Police Department declared the protests to be riots after fireworks were shot from the crowd just after midnight.
