Trump administration ‘escalating’ situation in Portland, mayor says, as protests continue

Protests in the Oregon city have been continuing since the death of George Floyd in May; federal forces have been detaining and arresting protesters

Mayor Ted Wheeler said he wants federal officials to leave the city, and the state of Oregon has also sued

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A demonstrator burns a flag during a protest against racial inequality in Portland, Oregon. City and state officials want federal police to leave the city. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:09am, 20 Jul 2020Updated: 12:13am, 20 Jul 2020

This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by David Cohen on politico.com on July 19, 2020.

Leave my city alone.

That was the message Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, Oregon, had on Sunday for US President Donald Trump in discussing the Trump administration’s response to ongoing protests and unrest in the city, in particular, the presence of militarised federal forces deployed by the Department of Homeland Security.

“What they are doing is sharply escalating the situation. Their presence here is actually leading to more violence and more vandalism. And it’s not helping the situation at all. They’re not wanted here,” Wheeler told host Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union. “In fact, we want them to leave.”

Mothers participate in a demonstration against racial inequality in Portland, Oregon, on July 18. Photo: Reuters

Protests in Portland have been continuing since the death of George Floyd in Minnesota in May. The focus of the unrest has been a 12-block area; protests in other parts of the city have been largely without incident, but protests within the 12-block zone have included fires and vandalism.