In anticipation of a possible violent clash between right-wing protesters and Antifa on Sunday afternoon, Portland police officials announced they will not interfere or intervene.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler reportedly backed down from his request the police bureau be given $2 million in emergency funds and instead voted with city commissioners to spend $6 million on grants to community groups and also hire 24 park rangers.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler admitted his policies in dealing with Antifa anarchists failed. He called for new enforcement actions and asked for federal and state assistance in dealing with the lawlessness.
Portland Police Bureau Chief Chuck Lovell said his department is aware of a “stockpile of weapons” and “the presence of firearms” in a growing autonomous zone. A group of anti-eviction protesters set up the zone to stop the lawful eviction of the occupants of what has become known as “the Red House on Mississippi.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) reprimanded the Portland Police Bureau for publicly defending the use of tear gas, calling it a “serious breach of protocol and an inappropriate use of City communications resources.”
After sending federal police officers and Oregon State Police packing, Democrat Gov. Kate Brown announced on Sunday that she is bringing the state officers back to Portland, which has faced nightly destructive and now deadly riots for more than 90 days.
Rioters threw paint on an elderly woman and harrassed another trying to put out a fire at Portland’s East Precinct on Thursday
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell called for an end to the almost nightly violent protests in the city during a news conference on Wednesday.
Over 150 bullets were fired outside a Portland apartment building Friday, hitting at least eight apartments, seven vehicles, and wounding a woman.
