Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) labeled the recent gathering of Antifa members, which saw them instigating fights and defacing public property, as one of the "hundreds of peaceful demonstrations" the city experiences.
Members of Antifa gathered in the city on Saturday after it was reported members of the KKK were supposed to have rally. None of them showed up, but that did not stop Antifa members to start targeting other people and spraying anti-cop graffiti in public parks.
First-person video recorded on Brandon Brown's GoPro shows the unprovoked antifa attack today. @PortlandPolice were nearby on bicycles but did not intervene. https://t.co/6Qvk3mO1cA https://t.co/udfe4Ii4J1 pic.twitter.com/hVcFKaXVSn
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 9, 2020
Antifa militants boldly deface federal property nearby the @PortlandPolice central precinct. pic.twitter.com/4PUvT3eDKp
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 8, 2020
“We're not going to come out and save you,” Portland police tell a videographer who ran to them for help after being pursued by an aggressive mob of masked antifa militants. Police tell him to go elsewhere because they won't be helping. https://t.co/xnalYtzWM5 pic.twitter.com/R19YuSzgzo
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 9, 2020
"We are proud of our long history of protecting and celebrating the right to assembly and free speech. Every year Portland sees hundreds of peaceful demonstrations. Yesterday, there was a gathering to protest against hate and racism. A few individuals decided to use the opportunity to act out in violence and vandalize property," Wheeler tweeted on Sunday.
He added, "When our city needed help, public servants and community members stepped up. For this I am thankful."
Yesterday, there was a gathering to protest against hate and racism. A few individuals decided to use the opportunity to act out in violence and vandalize property.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) February 9, 2020
When our city needed help, public servants and community members stepped up.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) February 9, 2020
For this I am thankful.
The Portland Police Bureau said three people had been arrested and "some people in the group began acting in a violent, threatening manner against attendees who were legally capturing photos and videos...Metal-tipped umbrellas were used to jab toward people and chase them down the street, and objects (including rocks, concrete, batons, cans, and food) were thrown at community members and police."
