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Oregon Governor Urges End to 'Cycle of Violence' in Portland

VOA News

   Sunday brought continued protests in the northwestern city of Portland,
   Oregon, along with pledges from the state's governor to both reinforce
   police and address the underlying issues that have driven months of
   demonstrations against racial injustice.

   One group of protesters went Sunday to a building used by law
   enforcement, and like many nights during the demonstrations, the
   Portland police declared the assembly "unlawful" and made arrests.

   Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement late Sunday that everyone,
   including elected officials, law enforcement and community leaders,
   needs to come together to stop the cycle of violence in Portland, and
   that "real change will come from the hard work to achieve racial
   justice."

   Brown announced the Oregon State Police will be sending officers to
   Portland to free up local investigators to "arrest and charge those
   engaging in violent acts," and will hold a public forum with Portland
   Mayor Ted Wheeler, protest organizers and community leaders.

   She also criticized the actions of "armed right-wing vigilantes" who
   have confronted protesters in various U.S. cities, a day after a deadly
   shooting that followed clashes between supporters of President Donald
   Trump and counter-protesters.

   "The right-wing group Patriot Prayer and self-proclaimed militia
   members drove into downtown Portland last night, armed and looking for
   a fight," Brown said in a statement. "Every Oregonian has the right to
   freely express their views without fear of deadly violence. I will not
   allow Patriot Prayer and armed white supremacists to bring more
   bloodshed to our streets."

   A police statement said officers heard gunfire Saturday night and found
   a white man dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. Witnesses said the
   man was wearing a hat bearing the insignia of Patriot Prayer, a
   far-right group based in Washington state that has previously clashed
   with protesters.

   The Oregonian newspaper, citing sources familiar with the case, said
   police are investigating a 48-year-old man who has self-identified as
   anti-fascist and posted about attending protests in Portland during the
   past few months.

   At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Wheeler urged protesters not to
   turn violent or attempt retribution in the wake of Saturday night's
   shooting death.

   The president, apparently watching the broadcast, tweeted his
   criticism.

     Ted Wheeler, the wacky Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Mayor of
     Portland, who has watched great death and destruction of his City
     during his tenure, thinks this lawless situation should go on
     forever. Wrong! Portland will never recover with a fool for a
     Mayor....
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]August 30, 2020

   After Trump called Wheeler, a Democrat, a "fool" and blamed him for the
   "great death and destruction" in the liberal city, Wheeler, who was
   visibly angry, addressed Trump through the TV cameras, calling his
   comments "classic Trump."

   "You've tried to divide us more than any other figure in modern history
   and now you want me to stop the violence that you helped create,"
   [2]Wheeler said to Trump. "What America needs is you to be stopped so
   we can come back together as one America."

   The mayor continued at length, bringing up everything from Trump's
   sexist comments about women to his "racist attacks on Black people."

   Last week, as he accepted the Republican nomination for president,
   Trump used Portland as an example of the dystopian future Americans can
   expect if his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, wins the
   November 3 election.

   Voters "won't be safe in Joe Biden's America," the president said.

   Biden is set to respond with an address Monday in Pennsylvania that his
   campaign said will focus on the question: "Are you safe in Donald
   Trump's America?"

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1300170576515026945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/08/portland-mayor-to-president-donald-trump-support-us-or-stay-the-hell-out-of-the-way.html

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