Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Thursday accused Portland politicians of allowing the “mafia” of protesters who have besieged the city for more than six weeks, and published a long timeline of the damage caused by the ” violent anarchists. “
“The city of Portland has been under siege for 47 days in a row by a violent mafia, while local political leaders are refusing to restore order to protect their city,” Wolf said in a statement. “Every night, lawless anarchists destroy and desecrate property, including the federal courthouse, and attack the brave law enforcement officers who protect it.”
PORTLAND PROTESTORS CREATE THEIR OWN ‘AUTONOMOUS ZONE’ BY PUTTING STORES, REBUILDING BARRICS REMOVED BY THE POLICE
The city fell into chaos in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Although the protests took place in other cities and eventually faded, in Portland they lasted for more than six weeks, causing violence and destruction of property.
Local businesses have reported losses of $ 23 million due to looting and riots that have affected their downtown area, and protesters were seen lighting burning mattresses and setting fireworks on the streets. Protesters have also set up tents in the park near the federal courthouse and barricaded the streets to create their own autonomous zone, compared to the organized Capitol Hill protest that broke up in Seattle.
Earlier this month, the US Department of Homeland Security deployed more than half a dozen law enforcement agencies and departments, with officials from the US Marshals, the Federal Protective Service, and the Rotary US Customs and Border Protection services throughout the city in a bid to quell violence and protect federal property, a movement opposed by local politicians.
THE MAIN MOVEMENTS OF THE PORTLAND POLICE ARE MOVING TO DISABLE THE ARM VIOLENCE REDUCTION TEAM, AS VIOLENCE INCREASES
On Thursday, Wolf also released a timeline showing the havoc caused by what DHS called “violent anarchists.”
In the past few days alone, the timeline details how officers’ personal information has been posted online, while protesters have assaulted law enforcement with hammers, lasers, slingshots, and fireworks, while others have been armed with mallets, tasers and “burning rubble”. “
The timeline describes how anarchists attempted to “ambush” a Portland Police Department officer during a shift change, only to be thwarted by a DHS team. It also noted continued attacks on federal buildings such as the Hatfield Courthouse, one of the many buildings damaged by protesters.
“Federal court is a symbol of justice: attacking it is attacking the United States,” Wolf said. “Instead of targeting violent criminals in their communities, state and local leaders are focusing on blaming law enforcement and calling for fewer officers in their community.”
“This failed response has only emboldened the violent mafia as violence increases day after day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic officials have focused on the police response to the mob. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, wrote to Wolf and Attorney General William Barr this week complaining that a protester was hit in the head by crowd control ammunition.
“This politically driven federal response is intolerable,” Wyden said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ted Wheeler said Wolf called him Tuesday to speak to him about the ongoing violence and how the government could help.
Wheeler tweeted that he told Wolf “that my greatest immediate concern is the violence that federal agents have brought to our streets in recent days and the life-threatening tactics that their agents use.”
“We do not need or want your help,” he said, before saying he asked DHS to clean up graffiti on federal buildings.
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But Wolf said in his statement that the feds have no intention of withdrawing, and called on officials to enforce the law and take “appropriate action.”
“This siege can end if state and local officials decide to take appropriate action instead of refusing to enforce the law,” he said. “DHS will not relinquish its solemn duty to protect federal facilities and those within them. Again, I reiterate the Department’s offer to help local and state leaders end the violence perpetuated by anarchists. “
Fox News’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
