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Portland, Ore., Mayor Ted Wheeler (R) condemned antifa and anarchists following a night of riots in the city on New Years Eve.
Speaking at a press conference on New Year’s Day, the mayor said protesters caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage by smashing windows, starting fires and painting properties in the center. city of Portland on Thursday night, local CBS affiliate KOIN reported.
Wheeler asked at his press conference, “Why would a group of largely white, young and some middle-aged men destroy the livelihoods of others who are struggling to get by?”
According to law enforcement, some protesters used Molotov cocktails on Thursday evening, causing thousands of dollars in damage to properties around downtown.
The mayor has since been in contact with Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, calling for more prosecution and accountability for “ radical and anarchist antifas ” seeking to cause damage and wreak havoc in the city, which suffered dozens of nights of violent protests in 2020.
“My good faith efforts at de-escalation have met with continued violence and even with contempt from radical antifas and anarchists,” Wheeler said. “In response, it will be necessary to use additional tools and push the boundaries of the tools we already have to end criminal destruction and violence.”
Wheeler has committed to three counter-approaches to dealing with violent protesters in the city, including calling on federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies “to come together to deal with anarchist violence as soon as possible “.
He also called on the state legislature to increase penalties for repeat offenders, adding that he believed those convicted of criminal destruction should be “required to meet with those whose businesses they damaged”.
The Portland mayor’s comments mark a dramatic change in tone from his remarks throughout 2020, when protesters ravaged a nearby courthouse for more than 100 nights, in part sparked by outrage over the death of George Floyd in custody in Minneapolis in May.
President Trump
Donald Trump Trump calls Georgia Senate second round ‘both illegal and invalid’ in New Year’s tweets Judge dismisses Gohmert’s election lawsuit against Pence Former GOP senator suggests forming new party and calls Trump the Republicans’ “ master of the track ” MORE urged Wheeler to allow him to deploy federal troops to help quell protests in the city during the summer, but the mayor declined the president’s offer.
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