INSIDER
In Portland, Oregon, political outsider Keith Wilson elected mayor after homelessness-focused race
Read full article: In Portland, Oregon, political outsider Keith Wilson elected mayor after homelessness-focused raceVoters in Portland, Oregon, have elected political outsider Keith Wilson as their next mayor.
Tech outage latest | Airlines and others rush to get back on track after global tech disruption
Read full article: Tech outage latest | Airlines and others rush to get back on track after global tech disruptionTransport providers, businesses and governments are rushing to get all their systems back online after long disruptions following a widespread technology outage.
Some cities facing homelessness crisis applaud Supreme Court decision, while others push back
Read full article: Some cities facing homelessness crisis applaud Supreme Court decision, while others push backSan Francisco’s mayor says the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces will allow the city to begin clearing homeless encampments that have plagued the city.
Portland bans daytime camping, imposes other restrictions
Read full article: Portland bans daytime camping, imposes other restrictionsOfficials in Portland, Oregon, have voted to pass an ordinance prohibiting camping during daytime hours in most public places as the city struggles to address a longtime homelessness crisis.
Voters OK drastic overhaul of City Hall in Portland, Oregon
Read full article: Voters OK drastic overhaul of City Hall in Portland, OregonVoters in Portland, Oregon, have approved a ballot measure that will overhaul the city's government, spurred by growing concerns over homelessness and a desire to make City Hall more inclusive.
Amid spike in shootings, Portland unveils new initiative
Read full article: Amid spike in shootings, Portland unveils new initiativeGripped by gun violence that’s affecting cities across the nation, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, has issued a new emergency declaration with the goal of reducing gun killings by at least 10% over the next two years.
Oregon lawmakers propose $400M for housing and homelessness
Read full article: Oregon lawmakers propose $400M for housing and homelessnessDemocrats in Oregon’s Legislature have proposed a $400 million investment package on Thursday to urgently address some of the state’s biggest challenges — homelessness and affordable housing.
Black councilman nudges Portland center on post-protest path
Read full article: Black councilman nudges Portland center on post-protest pathOregon’s largest city was at the center of the nation's progressive push to cut police budgets amid the outrage that swept the nation after the murder of George Floyd.
Oregon's biggest city has 'long way to go' repairing its rep
Read full article: Oregon's biggest city has 'long way to go' repairing its repTourism officials from Oregon's largest city are calling Portland’s reputation “badly damaged” by months of destructive protests, a homeless crisis and a record year for homicides.
'Lawless city?' Worry after Portland police don't stop chaos
Read full article: 'Lawless city?' Worry after Portland police don't stop chaosA crowd of 100 people wreaked havoc in downtown Portland, Oregon, this week, smashing storefront windows, lighting dumpsters on fire and causing at least $500,000 in damage.
Portland mayor: Keeping police away from protest a mistake
Read full article: Portland mayor: Keeping police away from protest a mistakeNearly three weeks after armed far-right and far-left protesters violently clashed in the streets of a diverse neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, the city’s mayor says the lack of police intervention was “not the right strategy.”.
Homicides are up, but GOP misleads with claims about blame
Read full article: Homicides are up, but GOP misleads with claims about blameSome police organizations and Republican politicians are blaming Democrats and last year's defund the police effort for a troubling rise in homicides in many cities across the country.
Guilty verdicts in Floyd's death bring joy — and wariness
Read full article: Guilty verdicts in Floyd's death bring joy — and warinessMany Americans reacted with jubilation but also with deep awareness of the progress left to be made after a jury convicted former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
Portland leaders condemn ongoing violence by 'anarchists'
Read full article: Portland leaders condemn ongoing violence by 'anarchists'Oregon's largest city has seen a series of often violent protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Portland Police Department via AP, File)PORTLAND, Ore. – Leaders and elected officials in Portland, Oregon, came together Monday to demand an end to violence, criminal destruction and intimidation by “anarchists” as destructive protests continue in the city. For nearly nine months protesters have called for police reform and an end to systemic racism in Portland, which has become a key city in the country's racial reckoning. “The misguided and miseducated anarchists reject civility and instead intentionally create mayhem through criminally destructive behavior tearing up our city. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Portland police: Detained protesters had bear spray, hammers
Read full article: Portland police: Detained protesters had bear spray, hammers(Portland Police Department via AP)PORTLAND, Ore. – Officers found a crowbar, hammers, bear spray and firearms after they corralled a group of about 100 protesters, Portland police said Saturday. Some of the protesters also confronted the police, throwing rocks and full cans of beer, the department said. Officers used pepper spray. AdAmong the items left behind by the protesters were crowbar, hammers, bear spray, knives and what the department described as a “slugging weapon with rocks.”Thirteen people are facing charges from the protest, including disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and interfering with police. On Saturday, three civil rights groups called for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the Portland Police Bureau in light of Friday's arrests.
Portland mayor seeks $2 million to stem rampant gun violence
Read full article: Portland mayor seeks $2 million to stem rampant gun violence(AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)PORTLAND, Ore. – The mayor of Portland, Oregon, announced Thursday he would seek $2 million in one-time funding for police, other agencies and outreach programs to try to stem rampant gun violence in the city. The move by Mayor Ted Wheeler represents an about-face after city leaders in June voted to cut nearly $16 million from the police budget, reductions that included the elimination of a gun violence reduction unit. During an hour-long news conference Thursday, Wheeler, activists, faith leaders and community members reiterated that in order to solve the problem of gun violence, the community must work together. Wheeler said the tactic is not the same as the now-eliminated Gun Violence Reduction Team and would be more transparent. Wheeler said he supports the ideas, beginning with asking City Council to appropriate $2 million in one-time fiuds from the city’s reserve stability contingency account created last fall, to address gun violence.
As violence surges, some question Portland axing police unit
Read full article: As violence surges, some question Portland axing police unitCritics say the squad unfairly targeted Black people, but gun violence and homicides have since spiked in Oregon's largest city, and some say disbanding the 35-officer unit was a mistake. It’s really just that simple.”Stockton, California, began disbanding and defunding police units dedicated to gun violence in 2010. While policing has been refocused in Portland, experts and officials say it's unlikely those changes caused spikes in gun violence. Last month, police launched a squad of 15 officers and six detectives focusing on gun violence investigations. Yarborough, Penney's uncle, was a gang member in the 1990s and had been arrested by officers with Portland's gun violence team.
Oregon moves to ban display of nooses, a racist symbol
Read full article: Oregon moves to ban display of nooses, a racist symbolSome states have already criminalized the display of nooses, including Louisiana, Virginia, California, New York and Connecticut. “He was killed basically for offending a white man,” Evans, a member of the Eugene City Council, testified Tuesday. His body was riddled with bullets, and then he was set on fire.”Louisiana, Virginia, California, New York, Maryland and Connecticut previously criminalized the display of nooses. The bill under consideration in Oregon would make intimidation by display of a noose a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $6,250 fine. “The harm to communities impacted by the display of a noose should not be understated," the city leaders wrote.
Portland police ask for clear streets at barricaded house
Read full article: Portland police ask for clear streets at barricaded houseMasked protesters by an occupied home speak with a neighborhood resident opposed to their encampment and demonstration in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland's police chief on Friday implored protesters to clear the streets around a barricaded home that was owned by a Black and Indigenous family before it was allegedly taken through predatory lending practices. Before dawn Tuesday, sheriff's deputies swooped into the disputed home and arrested several people, mostly for trespassing. Activists, many of whom had participated in Black Lives Matter protests in Portland for months, arrived on the scene and confronted law enforcement officers, who retreated. The 124-year-old house is in a historically Black part of Portland that for decades was one of the few areas where Black residents could own homes.
Large Oregon gentrification protest stretches into 3rd day
Read full article: Large Oregon gentrification protest stretches into 3rd dayProtesters stand behind barricades at their encampment outside a home in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. Supporters of the Kinney family, the Black and Indigenous family that faced foreclosure, have said the home was unjustly taken through predatory lending practices that target people of color. The small, maroon-painted property is known as the Red House on Mississippi for its location on North Mississippi Avenue. On Thursday, the family's supporters said in a statement that Wheeler's office had reached out to the Kinney family late Wednesday and promised to “keep it Kinney" in an initial conversation. Neighbors have complained that the sidewalks were blocked and they could not get to their homes, police said.
Oregon eviction protest fueled by history of gentrification
Read full article: Oregon eviction protest fueled by history of gentrificationProtesters dressed in black and wearing ski masks stood watch from atop a nearby wall. “I warned the city ... that they were displacing family after family after family ... Oregon lawmakers are debating a proposal to extend that moratorium until July 1 and establish a compensation fund for struggling landlords. Protesters say the Kinney family should not have been forced to leave during a pandemic and should be protected by the eviction moratorium. According to a history posted online by the group protesting the eviction, the property was initially purchased in full with cash.
Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from police
Read full article: Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from policeBack the Blue police supporters, left, stand next to Black Lives Matter protesters calling for defunding the police, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)
Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from police
Read full article: Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from policeMayor Ted Wheeler, who is also police commissioner, was one of three commissioners who voted last week to delay a vote on the budget amendment until after Tuesday's election. Wheeler won a second term and voted “no” on the amendment Thursday. Police accountability has been a driving issue in Portland since the killing of George Floyd in May and was one of the biggest issues in the mayor's race. Portland has been roiled by five months of near-nightly Black Lives Matter protests and Wheeler has come under intense criticism for what many see as an overly aggressive police force. And while protests around the country focused on the vote count in the U.S. presidential election this week, protests in Portland were centered on racial injustice and police brutality.
Election demonstrators arrested in Seattle and Portland
Read full article: Election demonstrators arrested in Seattle and PortlandIn Portland, protesters smashed windows at businesses, hurled objects including fireworks at officers and police made at least 10 arrests, according to a statement from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Officers seized multiple firearms, ammunition, a knife, fireworks, body armor and gas masks from people who were arrested, a sheriff's office statement said. Kate Brown had activated the use of the state National Guard to help local law enforcement manage unrest related to the election, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said. Law enforcement made no arrests that day and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office thanked demonstrators for remaining peaceful. ___This version corrects that fireworks, not a Molotov cocktail, were thrown at officers in Portland and that one person was arrested with fireworks, not an improvised explosive device.
Oregon protest fallout dominates close Portland mayor race
Read full article: Oregon protest fallout dominates close Portland mayor racePortland, Oregon Mayor Ted Wheeler poses in a City Hall office on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in Portland. With Election Day weeks away, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is trailing in the polls behind Sarah Iannarone. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)PORTLAND, Ore. – In most election cycles, America wouldn’t pay attention to the Portland, Oregon, mayoral race — but this isn’t a normal year. Many of those voters are backing Iannarone, who has attended three dozen protests and touts campaign bumper stickers that read “Everyday Antifascist. “I’m still trying to pin down what Ted Wheeler really stands for,” said Cameron Whitten, founder of The Black Resilience Fund who's endorsed Iannarone.
Portland mayor spars with US on deputized police officers
Read full article: Portland mayor spars with US on deputized police officersDeputizing the Portland officers gives federal prosecutors the option to charge anyone arrested by those officers with federal crimes, which often come with more severe penalties than the state crimes for which local police usually make arrests. Wheeler has declined offers of assistance from federal law enforcement and Gov. “Importantly, the federal deputation supports front line law enforcement officers and their families in a way that they have not seen from City Hall. Portland city officials apparently did not know that their officers' federal deputization status would last until the end of this year. When prompted about the Proud Boys, he said: “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.” The president also referenced the Portland protests in his remarks.
Portland, Oregon, largely peaceful after right-wing rally
Read full article: Portland, Oregon, largely peaceful after right-wing rallyDozens began to show up two hours before the right-wing rally, some packed into the beds of pickup trucks. The Proud Boys mentioned Danielson in their permit application, as well as Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Proud Boys raised the specter of a vigilante response to the actions of a “mob” in a permit application filed with the city this week. “Portland leadership is unwilling to stop the violence," the Proud Boys wrote in the application. But on Friday, he reminded those attending the rally and counter-demonstrations that under Portland law, it's illegal to carry a loaded firearm in public without an Oregon concealed handgun permit.
Portland denies permit for right-wing rally, cites COVID-19
Read full article: Portland denies permit for right-wing rally, cites COVID-19PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland, Oregon, has denied a permit for a Saturday rally planned by the right-wing group Proud Boys. Events like this are not welcome and are not allowed,” Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees the city's parks department, said in the statement. The rally planned for Saturday was moved from downtown Portland to Delta Park in north Portland to accommodate what the Proud Boys called a “battalion of patriots" exercising their right to assemble freely. Left-wing groups plan at least two events to oppose the Proud Boys, including one in Delta Park. The location selected by the Proud Boys has angered some in Portland because of the history of the park.
Feds threaten funds to NYC, Seattle and Portland over unrest
Read full article: Feds threaten funds to NYC, Seattle and Portland over unrestIn Portland, they pointed to 100 consecutive nights of protests “marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing” and in New York City, the Justice Department pointed to a skyrocketing number of shootings throughout the five boroughs. It is not the first time the Justice Department has attempted to take action against city officials for the violent demonstrations. The department also explored whether it could pursue either criminal or civil rights charges against city officials in Portland after clashes erupted there night after night between law enforcement and demonstrators. In a joint statement, de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan decried the designation as “thoroughly political and unconstitutional.”"The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds. ___Associated Press writers Karen Matthews in New York and Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.
After wildfire smoke clears, protests resume in Portland
Read full article: After wildfire smoke clears, protests resume in PortlandTear gas fills the air during protests, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Portland, Ore. Photos show that smoke was used to clear the crowd, and it appeared that tear gas was deployed. Another tweet was issued that didn't mention tear gas. The protesters in Portland want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. Police criticized Wheeler's move, saying in a statement that it could force them to employ potentially more dangerous crowd control measures to quell violent demonstrations.
Feds explored possibly charging Portland officials in unrest
Read full article: Feds explored possibly charging Portland officials in unrestArmed right-wing protesters in support of President Donald Trump stand in front of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore., Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)WASHINGTON – The Justice Department explored whether it could pursue either criminal or civil rights charges against city officials in Portland, Oregon, after clashes erupted there night after night between law enforcement and demonstrators, a department spokesperson said Thursday. The revelation that federal officials researched whether they could levy criminal or civil charges against the officials — exploring whether their rhetoric and actions may have helped spur the violence in Portland — underscores the larger Trump administration's effort to spotlight and crack down on protest-related violence. But bringing criminal civil rights charges against city officials for protest-related violence would likely present an uphill court battle for federal prosecutors. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement it was “ridiculous on its face,” and the Trump administration is trying to distract from its own massive failures on the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.
Portland protests not abating after 100 straight days
Read full article: Portland protests not abating after 100 straight daysThis weekend Portland will mark 100 consecutive days of protests over the May 25 police killing of George Floyd. Protesters, most wearing black, gathered around sunset Saturday at a grassy park in the city. On the 100th day of protests in Portland, demonstrators vowed to keep coming into the streets. Tupac Leahy, a 23-year-old Black man from Portland, said he had probably been out to protests for about 70 of the 100 days of demonstrations. Late Friday and early Saturday morning protests continued in Portland, with police declaring an unlawful assembly and arresting 27 people.
Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violent
Read full article: Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violentBlack Lives Matter protests, vigils and speeches marking the occasion are planned over three days and Trump supporters are planning another caravan rally. But smaller protests have continued, with groups of 100 to 200 people marching nightly. The protesters want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. The tension reached a new high last weekend when the pro-Trump caravan motored into downtown, with some shooting paintballs and spraying bear repellent at Black Lives Matter protesters who tried to block the streets. Lost amid the escalating tensions are the voices of the citys Black residents, who are divided about the best way to keep up the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Trump threat to Democratic-led cities provokes outcry
Read full article: Trump threat to Democratic-led cities provokes outcryTrump has made a number of other threats that were either struck down by judges or that the president paused on his own. Previously, Trump threatened to cut funding for sanctuary cities to force them to comply with more stringent immigration policies. In his memo, Trump singled out Seattle, New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., for possible loss of federal dollars. It is just the latest baseless, petty and divisive move by President Trump to distract from his abject failure to protect Americans from COVID-19, Inslee said. ______Associated Press writers Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, and Karen Matthews in New York City contributed to this report.
Portland chief: Violent protests come 'at increased cost'
Read full article: Portland chief: Violent protests come 'at increased cost'The fire was set with a bundle of newspapers in a store housed on the ground floor of Wheelers building. Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said the demonstrators also wound up targeting other people who live in Wheeler's building and have had nothing to do with the protests. As Ive stated repeatedly, the nightly violence is coming at increased cost, he said. On Tuesday, federal authorities said a Portland man had been charged with assaulting federal officers after crashing his sport utility vehicle repeatedly into a car carrying uniformed federal officers early Sunday. According to court documents, the two Federal Protective Service officers deployed to Portland because of the ongoing protests were in a rental vehicle en route to their hotel on a highway.
Portland protesters target city's mayor amid rising tensions
Read full article: Portland protesters target city's mayor amid rising tensionsSome also blame the mayor for engaging in a war of words with President Donald Trump instead of focusing on local needs. A caravan of Trump supporters, estimated at about 600 cars, encountered Black Lives Matter protesters as they drove through the downtown and skirmishes broke out. Many said afterward that they wanted to hear about solutions to the violence and how to keep the city's Black residents safe. The Oregon State Police and sheriff's deputies from Multnomah County the county that includes Portland are bolstering the city's force. Kate Brown, a Democrat, has so far declined to send the National Guard to Portland, as Trump has suggested.
State police returning to Portland following deadly shooting
Read full article: State police returning to Portland following deadly shootingADDS THE SHOOTING WAS FATAL - A man is treated after being shot Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Portland, Ore. Mr. President, how can you think that a comment like that, if youre watching this, is in any way helpful? Also, Brown said Oregon State Police will return to Portland to help local police, and nearby law enforcement agencies will also be asked to assist. Trump earlier Sunday appeared to be encouraging his supporters to move into Portland in the wake of the shooting. After the shooting, the president shared a video of his supporters driving into Portland and called those in Saturdays caravan GREAT PATRIOTS!Wheeler begged those who wanted to come to Portland to seek retribution to stay away.
Trump seizes on protests as Dems blame him for tensions
Read full article: Trump seizes on protests as Dems blame him for tensionsand announced he will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid anger over the shooting of another Black man by police. The city has been the site of months of daily protests, and a large caravan of Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed Saturday night. The people of Portland, like all other cities & parts of our great Country, want Law & Order," Trump wrote Sunday. But Democrats accuse Trump of rooting for unrest and trying to stoke further violence for political gain instead of seeking to ratchet down tensions. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, blamed Trump for the tensions.
Patriot Prayer no stranger to violent Northwest protests
Read full article: Patriot Prayer no stranger to violent Northwest protestsPatriot Prayer's founder, Joey Gibson, has held pro-Trump rallies repeatedly in Portland and other cities since 2016. Photos taken of the body show he was wearing a Patriot Prayer hat. Gibson, a one-time Senate candidate, founded Patriot Prayer in 2016. The defendant Jeremy Christian, who was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences earlier this year, had attended a Patriot Prayer rally several months before, but was kicked out by organizers for flashing Nazi hand signs. Mayor Ted Wheeler said when Trump supporters want to come to Portland to rally, there is nothing the city can do to prevent them.
Protester killed in Portland as mayor, Trump trade blame
Read full article: Protester killed in Portland as mayor, Trump trade blameMr. President, how can you think that a comment like that, if youre watching this, is in any way helpful? Why dont we try that for a change?The testy news conference followed a chaotic and volatile 24 hours in Portland that began when a caravan of about 600 vehicles packed with Trump supporters drove through Portland and was met with counterprotesters. In July, Trump sent more than 100 federal agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to safeguard federal property a move that instead reinvigorated the protests. Trump earlier Sunday appeared to be encouraging his supporters to move into Portland in the wake of the shooting. He has come under fire from some in Portland for criticizing violent demonstrators and saying they were helping Trump with his reelection campaign.
'Fanning the flames': Dems accuse Trump of stoking violence
Read full article: 'Fanning the flames': Dems accuse Trump of stoking violenceSupporters of President Donald Trump and protesters hold banners as they wait for the motorcade of President Trump outside the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. The people of Portland, like all other cities & parts of our great Country, want Law & Order," Trump later tweeted. But Democrats accuse Trump of rooting for unrest and trying to stoke further violence for political gain instead of seeking to ratchet down tensions. Trump has cast the upcoming election as clash between law and order and anarchy, and he has denounced protesters as thugs while sharply defending police. And hes going to do everything to disrupt law and order in this time period."
GOP portrayal of urban mayhem doesn't always match reality
Read full article: GOP portrayal of urban mayhem doesn't always match realityIn Portland, protests have played out for more than 90 consecutive nights, frequently ending with vandalism. In New York City, police recorded 280 killings through Aug. 23, up from 208 during the same period last year. But for a broader perspective, there were nearly 2,300 murders in New York City in 1990. Then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg proclaimed New York City the safest big city in America. Back in Portland, Mayor Ted Wheeler this week took exception to the portrayal of his city as lawless.
GOP portrayal of urban mayhem doesn't always match reality
Read full article: GOP portrayal of urban mayhem doesn't always match realityIn Portland, protests have played out for more than 90 consecutive nights, frequently ending with vandalism. In New York City, police recorded 280 killings through Aug. 23, up from 208 during the same period last year. But for a broader perspective, there were nearly 2,300 murders in New York City in 1990. Then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg proclaimed New York City the safest big city in America. Back in Portland, Mayor Ted Wheeler this week took exception to the portrayal of his city as lawless.
Black Portland reflects on role of white allies in movement
Read full article: Black Portland reflects on role of white allies in movementIt's also prompted introspection in the liberal city's small Black community about the role of white demonstrators in the Black Lives Matter movement and what it means to be a white ally in this transformational moment. That's led to disagreements in the Black community about what it means to be a white ally. A smaller number of the self-described moms still protest, joining Black mothers under the group Moms United for Black Lives. Theyre working hard to educate themselves and educate other people and help the Black community. Theyve been arrested, theyve been tear-gassed, theyve been hit with rubber bullets, she said of the white moms.
No prosecution for many arrested at Portland's protests
Read full article: No prosecution for many arrested at Portland's protestsProtests in Portland have topped the headlines for days, but lost in the shouting are the voices of Black Portlanders themselves and their feelings about the unrest are nuanced and diverse. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)PORTLAND, Ore. People arrested in Portland since late May on non-violent misdemeanor charges during the protests that have racked Oregons largest city for more than two months won't be prosecuted. The same no prosecution policy applies to those arrested on similar charges in future demonstrations, he said. The protesters are angry ... and deeply frustrated with what they perceive to be structural inequities in our basic social fabric. Tuesday night, one group blocked traffic downtown in a peaceful gathering that authorities did not interact with, Portland police said in a statement.
Protesters return to streets, parks of Portland, Oregon
Read full article: Protesters return to streets, parks of Portland, OregonRallies were held in the afternoon and evening throughout the city, including Peninsula, Laurelhurst and Berrydale parks, local media reported. This weeks clashes have, however, amped up tensions after an agreement between state and federal officials seemed to offer a brief reprieve. An Oregon State Police Trooper was struck in the head by a large rock and suffered a head injury, police said. Oregon State Police worked with Portland officers to clear the protesters. Trump has called the protesters as sick and dangerous anarchists running wild in the citys streets.
More protests on tap in Portland as mayor decries violence
Read full article: More protests on tap in Portland as mayor decries violenceFoxworth described some of his experiences as a Black police officer, his thoughts on police reform and value he sees in extensive training for officers. And more demonstrations were planned overnight Thursday, hours after the city's mayor decried the unrest that has roiled Portland since George Floyd was killed. You are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder, Mayor Ted Wheeler said Thursday in a hastily called news conference alongside Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell. Police used tear gas for the first time since federal agents pulled back last week. In Portland, the civil disobedience prompted Trump to send federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.
Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reduced
Read full article: Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reducedLeshan Terry hold his son Leshan Terry, Jr., 6, during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Friday, July 31, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A group identified as Firefighters for Black Lives Matter gathered in a small park a couple miles west of the courthouse. A parade of cars with Black Lives Matter signs taped to their windows slowed traffic in the city. Since then, there have been no visible signs of any federal law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portlands federal courthouse became a target for some protesters.
Portland protest scene relatively calm after US drawdown
Read full article: Portland protest scene relatively calm after US drawdownThe agents most nights fired tear gas in return. The mood remained calm at 1 a.m. Friday as the crowd dwindled to about 500 demonstrators. The Democrat also apologized to peaceful demonstrators exposed to tear gas used by Portland police before federal officials arrived. But federal officials insisted that the agents will not leave the city completely and will be kept on standby. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.
US agents in Portland to pull back, but tensions remain
Read full article: US agents in Portland to pull back, but tensions remainHours after the deal was announced, protesters and federal agents faced off Wednesday night near the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, the Oregonian paper reported. Thousands of demonstrators crowded downtown Portland, drawing dozens of agents in Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection uniforms into the streets. Many demonstrators are peaceful, but smaller numbers have thrown fireworks, flares, rocks and ball bearings at federal agents, used green lasers to blind them and spread graffiti over the face of the federal courthouse. Many protesters want reduced funding for the Portland Police Bureau and are angry that officers used tear gas on protesters multiple times before federal agents arrived. Brown said the departure of the federal agents was a chance to address that anger and begin to make improvements in community policing.
US agents to pull back in Portland but will stay on standby
Read full article: US agents to pull back in Portland but will stay on standbyMany demonstrators are peaceful, but smaller numbers have thrown fireworks, flares and rocks at federal agents, used lasers to blind them and sprayed graffiti across the downtown Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. The deployment appeared to have the opposite effect, reinvigorating demonstrations with a new focus: getting rid of the federal presence. Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core, he said. Wednesday's announcement was an abrupt about-face from just two days earlier, when the U.S. government said it might send more federal agents to Portland. Oregon's governor cautioned Wednesday that the lower visibility of the federal agents and their ultimate departure won't immediately resolve the conflict.
Mayors want US agents blocked from Portland, other cities
Read full article: Mayors want US agents blocked from Portland, other citiesWe are not leaving the building unprotected to be destroyed by people intent on doing so.Local and state officials said the federal officers are unwelcome. President Donald Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest, but state and local officials said they are making the situation worse. Trumps deployment of the federal officers over the July 4 weekend stoked the Black Lives Matter movement. Early Monday, U.S. agents repeatedly fired tear gas, flash bangs and pepper balls at protesters outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. Trump said on Twitter that federal properties in Portland wouldnt last a day without the presence of the federal agents.
Portland struggles with liberal identity under nation's gaze
Read full article: Portland struggles with liberal identity under nation's gazeThe failure by the Democrat and sixth-generation Oregon resident to navigate this polarizing moment in his hometown reflects Portlands simmering internal struggle over its identity. Those voices have long gone unheard in Portland, which is less than 6% Black. Its not as liberal and progressive of a city as the national public holds it to be, and thats particularly true on race." We have this identity nationally as a city that is weird and progressive you know, Portlandia," said Gregory McKelvey, a Portland activist and police critic. 1, said Mac Smiff, a Black Portland resident who asked Wheeler pointed questions before the mayor was tear-gassed.
Huge Portland protest crowds, standoff with feds go on
Read full article: Huge Portland protest crowds, standoff with feds go onSince federal officers arrived in downtown Portland in early July, violent protests have largely been limited to a two block radius from the courthouse. Protesters in Portland have been targeting the federal courthouse, setting fires outside and vandalizing the building that U.S. authorities say they have a duty to protect. Federal agents have used tear gas, less-lethal ammunition that left one person critically injured and other force to scatter protesters. They face federal charges including assaulting federal officers, arson and damaging federal property, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said. A different federal judge late Thursday blocked U.S. agents from arresting or using physical force against journalists and legal observers at demonstrations.
Police blocked from arresting observers in Portland protests
Read full article: Police blocked from arresting observers in Portland protests(AP Photo/Noah Berger)PORTLAND, Ore. A federal judge specifically blocked U.S. agents from arresting or using physical force against journalists and legal observers at the ongoing Portland, Oregon, protests that have sparked confrontations between local officials and President Donald Trump over the limits of federal power. U.S. Judge Michael Simon made his ruling late Thursday, a day after Portland's mayor was tear-gassed by federal agents as he made an appearance outside a federal courthouse during raucous demonstrations. The state of Oregon is seeking an order limiting federal agents arrest powers during the demonstrations. Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad Wolf denied that federal agents were inflaming the situation in Portland. The court hearing focused on the actions of the more than 100 federal agents responding to protests outside the Portland courthouse.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodaySmoke fills the sky as federal officers try to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A federal judge is hearing arguments on Oregon's request for a restraining order against federal agents who have been sent to the state's largest city to quell protests that have spiraled into nightly clashes between authorities and demonstrators. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Portland mayor jeered as he tries to rally protesters
Read full article: Portland mayor jeered as he tries to rally protestersEarlier Wednesday, the City Council banned police from cooperating with federal agents or arresting reporters or legal observers. The state acknowledged that federal agents have the right to defend the courthouse but argued that they had overstepped. The Hatfield courthouse did not damage itself, he said, calling the protests dangerous and volatile.The lawsuit is one of several filed over authorities response to the Portland protests. It alleges that federal agents have used rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, batons and stun grenades against medics in violation of federal protections for freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Police say protesters have tried repeatedly to break into the federal courthouse and set fires around it and that the federal agents drive them back with tear gas and stun grenades.
Portland mayor gassed amid protest standoff with US agents
Read full article: Portland mayor gassed amid protest standoff with US agentsIt wasnt immediately clear if the agents knew Wheeler, a 57-year-old sixth-generation Oregonian and longtime politician, was among those in crowd when they used the tear gas. Earlier in the night, Wheeler was mostly jeered by protesters as he tried to rally the demonstrators who have clashed nightly with federal agents. Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad Wolf denied that federal agents were inflaming the situation in Portland. The police bureau in response declared that there was a riot at the site and threatened to use tear gas but officers never did and made no arrests. The court hearing focused on the actions of the more than 100 federal agents responding to protests outside the Portland courthouse.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for Today(AP Photo/Noah Berger)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. MAYOR OF PORTLAND TEAR GASSED BY FEDS Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, was tear gassed by U.S. government agents as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during another night of raging protests. WHAT VIRUS-WRACKED COUNTRIES HAVE IN COMMON When it comes to battling COVID-19, nations led by populist leaders like the U.S., Britain and Brazil are faring poorly compared to more traditional liberal democratic models. CHINA JOINS RACE TO RED PLANET China launches its most ambitious Mars mission yet in a bold attempt to join the U.S. in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet. (FINALLY) Four months after it was originally scheduled, Major League Baseballs opening day is here with the World Series champion Nationals hosting the New York Yankees.
Trump has been on both sides of the states' rights argument
Read full article: Trump has been on both sides of the states' rights argumentWhen it comes to squelching protests in Democrat-run cities, Trump is eager to send in federal troops and agents even when local leaders are begging him to butt out. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON When it comes to states' rights, President Donald Trump is all over the map. Just a month later, Trump flipped to asserting vast executive authority as he pushed states to reopen their economies fast. What the federal agents are doing in Portland should concern people everywhere in the United States," she said. Polsky said that, when it comes to the virus, Trump has attempted to displace responsibility for dealing with the pandemic onto states, onto governors.
Constitutional crisis looms over federal agents in Portland
Read full article: Constitutional crisis looms over federal agents in PortlandThe standoff could escalate there and elsewhere as Trump says he plans to send federal agents to other cities, too. The ACLU of Oregon has sued in federal court over the agents presence in Portland, and the organizations Chicago branch said it would similarly oppose a federal presence. Portland is rife with violent anarchists assaulting federal officers and federal buildings, the tweet said. Now, concern is growing that the tear gas is being used against demonstrators by federal officers instead. Court papers in a federal case against a man accused of shining a laser in the eyes of Federal Protective Service agents show that Portland police turned him over to U.S. authorities after federal officers identified him.
Federal agents, local streets: A 'red flag' in Oregon
Read full article: Federal agents, local streets: A 'red flag' in OregonPresident Donald Trump says he plans to send federal agents to other cities as well. The Chicago Tribune, citing anonymous sources, reported Monday that Trump planned to deploy 150 federal agents to Chicago. The ACLU of Oregon has sued in federal court over the agents presence in Portland, and the organizations Chicago branch said it would similarly oppose a federal presence. One prominent Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who is from the libertarian-leaning flank of the party, came out publicly against the federal agents. "But the notion that a handful of federal crimes justifies a substantial deployment of federal law enforcement officers to show force on the streets is, to my mind, unprecedented.Federal law enforcement," Vladeck said, "is not a political prop.____Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
Portland police: Federal agents used gas against protesters
Read full article: Portland police: Federal agents used gas against protestersAt 1:34 a.m. people lit a fire within the portico in front of the federal courthouse. Gas was used at least twice to remove protesters, the statement said, but Portland officers were not present during any of the activity or deploy any "CS gas." Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler said federal officers are not wanted here. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!Late Saturday, Portland police declared demonstrations near the federal courthouse a riot after saying protesters broke into the Portland Police Association building and started a fire. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum sued Homeland Security and the Marshals Service in federal court late Friday.
Fires set, fences moved: Police call Portland protest a riot
Read full article: Fires set, fences moved: Police call Portland protest a riotProtesters relocate a fence in front of the Justice Center, Saturday, July 18, 2020, during another night of protests in Portland, Ore. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP)
Oregon sues feds over Portland protests as unrest continues
Read full article: Oregon sues feds over Portland protests as unrest continuesFederal agents, some wearing camouflage and some wearing dark Homeland Security uniforms, used tear gas at least twice to break up crowds late Friday night, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Keep your troops in your own buildings, or have them leave our city," Wheeler said Friday. The administration has enlisted federal agents, including the U.S. Federal agents emerged from an office building next door and used impact munitions, stun grenades and tear gas to clear the area, the news organization reported. Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell told reporters Friday that his officers are in contact with the federal agents, but that neither controls the others actions.
Fires set, fences moved: Police call Portland protest a riot
Read full article: Fires set, fences moved: Police call Portland protest a riotThe fire at the Portland Police Association building was put out a short time later, Portland police said on Twitter. Fencing that had been placed around federal courthouse had also been removed by protesters and made into barricades, police tweeted. Keep your troops in your own buildings, or have them leave our city," Wheeler said Friday. Federal agents emerged from an office building next door and used impact munitions, stun grenades and tear gas to clear the area, the news organization reported. Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell told reporters Friday that his officers are in contact with the federal agents, but that neither controls the others actions.
Protesters hit with gas as locals demand feds leave Portland
Read full article: Protesters hit with gas as locals demand feds leave PortlandFederal officers deployed tear gas and fired less-lethal rounds into a crowd of protesters late Thursday. The actions came just hours after the head of the Department of Homeland Security called the protesters violent anarchists. Federal agents, some wearing camouflage and some wearing dark Homeland Security uniforms, used tear gas at least twice to break up crowds late Friday night, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Friday night she was also suing Homeland Security and the Marshals Service. Federal officers deployed tear gas again just before midnight after a few protesters placed dismantled fencing in front of plywood doors covering the entrance of the federal courthouse.
US official visits Portland, calls protesters 'anarchists'
Read full article: US official visits Portland, calls protesters 'anarchists'FILE - In this July 8, 2020, file photo, a worker washes graffiti off the sidewalk in front of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland, Ore., as two agents with the U.S. Oregon's largest city is in crisis as violent protests have wracked downtown for weeks. Each night, lawless anarchists destroy and desecrate property, including the federal courthouse, and attack the brave law enforcement officers protecting it, Wolf wrote. Federal officers recently sent to Portland by President Donald Trump have escalated tensions in the past two weeks, particularly after an officer with the U.S. Before Wolf arrived, Portland police arrested nine people early Thursday as they cleared protesters from two parks near the courthouse.
Chaotic protests prompt soul-searching in Portland, Oregon
Read full article: Chaotic protests prompt soul-searching in Portland, OregonFILE - In this July 4, 2020, file photo, protesters gather near a fire in downtown Portland, Ore. Oregon's largest city is in crisis as violent protests have wracked downtown for weeks. Meanwhile, downtown businesses are being destroyed on top of the pandemic and the rank-and-file police are increasingly venting their frustration. And in all the years that I have lived here, I have never seen the community more divided. But in Portland, which is familiar ground for the loosely organized, far-left activists known as antifa, or anti-fascists, the protests never stopped. The impact is terrible because what people have seen on the TV ... has scared people who live outside the downtown.
Mayor: US Marshals investigate shooting at Portland protest
Read full article: Mayor: US Marshals investigate shooting at Portland protestCORRECTS DAY AND DATE TO FRIDAY JULY 10. - FILE - In this Friday, July 10, 2020 file photo, a waste receptacle's contents are in flames as protesters gather in downtown Portland, Ore. The mayor of Portland, Oregon said late Sunday the U.S. Marshals Service are investigating the injury of a protester who was hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend after being hit in the head by an impact weapon fired by a federal law enforcement officer. Mayor Ted Wheeler said he spoke with with U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams and learned of the investigation.
Mayor: US Marshals investigate shooting at Portland protest
Read full article: Mayor: US Marshals investigate shooting at Portland protestThe mayor of Portland, Oregon said late Sunday the U.S. Mayor Ted Wheeler said he spoke with with U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams and learned of the investigation. Marshals Service is investigating after a protester was hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend after being hit in the head by a less-lethal round fired by a federal law enforcement officer, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said. I am calling on the federal government to be thorough and transparent with their findings," the Democratic mayor said. Police Chief Chuck Lovell said Monday that police communicate with federal officers mostly to avoid any unintentional confusion.
Violence mars Portland protests, frustrates Black community
Read full article: Violence mars Portland protests, frustrates Black communityAs the Portland protests enter a second month, they have shifted on several nights from the citys downtown core to a historically Black neighborhood in North Portland thats already buckling under the effects of white gentrification and has the most to gain or lose from the outrage in the streets. One prominent Black leader wrote to Mayor Ted Wheeler and said some clashes had unfolded three blocks from his house. He said the problem was with elements that were 99% white and did not represent the Black Lives Matter movement. At some point, enough is enough.Newly appointed Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who is Black, said the violence in North Portland was offensive and hurtful and has cost the city at least $6.2 million in overtime for its officers. Get to know us and get to know the pain that we feel with gentrification in this neighborhood, said Elaine Loving, who has lived in her familys North Portland home for 59 years.
The Latest: Portland reporters injured by police at protests
Read full article: The Latest: Portland reporters injured by police at protests(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)TOP OF THE HOUR: Two Portland reporters injured by police at protests against police brutality FBI director visits Minneapolis, is briefed on Floyd investigation. ___PORTLAND, Ore. -- At least two Portland-based reporters have been hurt in recent days while covering protests against police brutality. In both incidents, the reporters were told by police, in what the journalists described as profanity-laced responses, that their press credentials did not matter. Chauvin has been charged in state court with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three men are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Portland police chief resigns amid George Floyd protests
Read full article: Portland police chief resigns amid George Floyd protestsLovell said at a press conference that his appointment was completely unexpected and he's going to care about the community. (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian via AP)SALEM, Ore. SALEM, Ore.Portland's police chief resigned on Monday, just six months into her job, amid criticism of her department's handling of protests in Oregon's largest city. To say this was unexpected would be an understatement, new Police Chief Chuck Lovell said at a news conference. Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who is African American, slammed the recent police response to some protests. Im incredibly troubled by the excessive force used nightly by PDX police since the protests began, she said.
The Latest: Statue of Gen. Wickham toppled in Richmond
Read full article: The Latest: Statue of Gen. Wickham toppled in RichmondThe statue of Confederate Gen. Williams Carter Wickham lies on the ground after protesters pulled it down Saturday, June 6, 2020, in Monroe Park in Richmond, Va. A Richmond police spokeswoman didnt know if there were any arrests and the extent of any damage. She and the mayor added that the ban on one kind of tear gas known as CS could be extended if groups need more time for policy review. ___PORTLAND, Ore. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has ordered the citys police not to use a type of tear gas except as a last resort in life-threatening situations. Critics have called on the Portland Police Bureau to permanently ban the use of CS gas on protesters.
Oregon city joins others in curbing tear gas, police tactics
Read full article: Oregon city joins others in curbing tear gas, police tacticsWheeler issued a statement saying he shares community concerns about the use of CS gas, especially during a respiratory-illness pandemic. Critics have called on the Portland Police Bureau to permanently ban the use of CS gas on protesters. I strongly believe that gas should not be used to disperse crowds of non-violent protestors or for general crowd management purposes, Wheeler tweeted. Video from last Monday night showed police attacking mostly peaceful protesters with pepper spray after an officer tried to grab a pink umbrella from a demonstrator on the other side of a metal barricade. Portland police arrested about 20 people late Friday and early Saturday, alleging offenses that included disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer.
Districts jettison school police officers amid protests
Read full article: Districts jettison school police officers amid protestsMinneapolis suspended its school resource officer program on Tuesday. Protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, have made the end of the school resource officer program in their district one of their demands. The three districts have a combined student population of nearly 53,000, with more than 49,000 in Portland schools alone. I am pulling police officers from schools.The presence of armed police officers in schools is a contentious one. There are an estimated 25,000 school resource officers nationwide, he said.
Portland, other cities rethink school police amid protests
Read full article: Portland, other cities rethink school police amid protestsFILE - In this Dec. 9, 2013, file photo, a school resource officer in Anderson, Calif., walks a middle school student back to class. Portland Public Schools, Oregon's largest school district, will discontinue its use of Portland Police Bureau school resource officers. The district of more than 49,000 students joins Minneapolis, which severed ties with its school resource officers on Tuesday. Protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, have made the end of the school resource officer program in their district one of their demands. There are an estimated 25,000 school resource officers nationwide, said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, whose association represents about 10,000 dues-paying officers.
The Latest: DC National Guard probes low-flying helicopters
Read full article: The Latest: DC National Guard probes low-flying helicopters(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian via AP)The Latest on the May 25 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer pressed a knee on his neck:TOP OF THE HOUR: National Guard probes low-flying helicopter during DC protests. ___LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the death of George Floyd was inexcusable and he understands why people are protesting. __VATICAN CITY Pope Francis says he has witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in the United States in reaction to the killing of George Floyd and called for national reconciliation. ___PORTLAND, Ore. Several hundred people broke away from a massive peaceful protest late Tuesday and engaged in a confrontation with police officers guarding a public building. The crowd outside Lafayette Park near the White House protested the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minnesota.
Democratic governors reject Trump's call to send in military
Read full article: Democratic governors reject Trump's call to send in militaryJ.B. Pritzker said he doesn't believe the federal government can send military troops into his state. I reject the notion that the federal government can send troops into the state of Illinois," Pritzker said on CNN after Trump urged governors to deploy the Guard. At least 23 states and the District of Columbia had already deployed guard troops as of Monday morning, according to a statement from the National Guard. Trump wants governors to deploy the National Guard as a show of force to intimidate the public. Gavin Newsom, who has deployed thousands of guard troops to Los Angeles and other cities.