On a picture perfect early fall day in Portland, Goveror Kotek convened with Mayor Keith Wilson and a coterie of local elected officials for a press conference in Waterfront Park. The gathering was a response to President Donald Trump’s threats to unleash the full force of the American military on Portland. It’s needed, the unhinged wannabe dictator said, to put down what he believes is a “war-ravaged” city where roving gangs of Soros-funded left-wing radicals run amok.
Over the din of chattering tourists disembarking from a Willamette River cruise ship and water rushing through nearby Salmon Street Springs, Governor Tina Kotek said, “Portland is doing just fine.” The press conference was held a half-mile from a bustling Saturday Market in the shade of the historic Rose Building.
Kotek said she spoke on the phone with Trump for about 10 minutes this morning, telling him the situation at the ICE building in South Waterfront is under control and there’s no need for federal forces in Portland. “Our city is a far cry from the war-ravaged community that he has posted about on social media, ” Kotek added. “And I conveyed that directly to him.”
“If President Trump came to Portland today,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “What he would find is people riding their bikes, playing sports, enjoying the sunshine, and buying groceries or produce from a farmers market.”
As speakers addressed the media, there was a constant stream of people walking, rolling, and bicycling on the path behind them. It was a perfect illustration of the wide gap in reality between Trump’s version of Portland and the real thing.
Despite this calm, there’s concern that Trump’s provocations will see renewed, large-scale protests at the ICE facility in the coming days and weeks. When Portland Police Chief Bob Day was asked by a reporter to speak about what his officers have learned since the 2020 protests, Day said he’s, “Really proud the way the Portland Police Bureau demonstrates its ability to be a learning organization.” Day said they’ve enacted many recommendations from critiques from both inside and outside the agency — including having “dialogue officers” that wear different uniforms and are trained to communicate directly with protest organizers. “We are in support of peace for Portland… Officers will be held accountable that do not adhere to our directives or our policies, or state law.”
Whether or not federal troops make their presence felt here in larger numbers in coming days, we’ve already had ICE agents scooping up Portlanders in deportation raids.
The group Portland Contra las Deportaciones (Portland against deportations, or PDXCD) is planning a mass protest at the ICE facility on SW Macadam tomorrow (Sunday) at 4:00 pm. “We will not stand down, we will not be quiet. Trump and his racist goons have no place in Portland! Come protest with us and show that Portland demands an end to ice and federal terror!,” reads the event description.
At today’s press conference, Governor Kotek urged folks to “not take the bait,” echoing the sentiment shared by Mayor Wilson at a press conference yesterday. “Property damage or violence of any kind will get us nowhere and will not be tolerated,” Kotek added. “If you want to stand in opposition to the Trump administration, I would ask that you lean into supporting your community, helping people, making things better here.”
The tone from leaders was resolute, firm, and calm. There was no righteous indignation or fire and brimstone. Kotek, Wilson, and others told important truths about Portland that need to be heard right now. Flanked by local and state police leaders, they succeeded in showing a united front that isn’t looking to pick a fight, but seem capable of having it if/when one starts.
Please make plans to join us this week at Bike Happy Hour. Immigrant rights activists from PDXCD and Revoke ICE Permit PDX will join us for a community discussion in the plaza. We’ll discuss their campaign, learn what to do if you see ICE agents in your neighborhood, and how bicycle riders and safe streets activists can use the tools we have to make the community stronger in the face of rising federal aggression.
Thanks for reading.
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You fell for the Troll in chief as did all the other elected officials.
He has yet to send troops to Chicago after trolling them for 2 months.
If I was Wilson, I would welcome 500 fit young men to our city and give them trash bags and graffiti clean up tools and make use of federal labor….
This is just our deranged Prez throwing red meat to the Morons who listen to him.
Stop doing that.
Six or seven hundred years ago workers were paid in beer. What they couldn’t drink they sold. With 75 or so craft brewers in the area, perhaps we could do the something similar for these “fit young men.” Of course, they’d have to check their weapons at the door.
I see your point, and it’s correct in general. But not in this specific case. When a wannabee dictator threatens your state and city, you need to be seen as fighting back. There’s zero downside to doing so – politically or morally.
Will protestors show up with megaphones to shut down the conversation?
lol, no i think they’ve got bigger fish to fry down at ICE! They’ve been waiting for this with excitement i’m sure. Well for once I agree with them i guess.
Possibly ones in uniform. Which side are you on?
The whole point of this stunt (if it even happens) is to provoke. If no one helps them put on the media show they want, we’ll have troops doing nothing and it will look like the colossal waste of resources that it is.
Even if many thousands of troops arrive, they can’t do much. As a purely practical matter, getting around, dealing with food and shelter, keeping their armored vehicles fueled, and the like dramatically limits where they can be and what they can do.
Even near the ICE facility, what can they hope to accomplish? Seize the area so people can’t go out to buy groceries, go to work, or receive medical care in the South Waterfront? Open fire on surrounding apartment buildings, homes, and businesses?
Heck, practically the only thing they can do is tangle with people who show up to engage them.
If people face them head on, they’ll get the media show they want complete with excessive force and cruelty that helps their narrative and contributes to an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Even people getting hopped up thinking about this stuff plays into their plan.
Keep the faith, ride your bike, and treat this like the nothingburger that it is.