The Portland city commissioner rejected a claim that it was the police, not the protesters, who were responsible for the fires during the city riots, apologizing after the Portland police questioned the claim.
“I want people to know that I don’t think there are protesters in Portland who are setting fires, creating crises. I absolutely believe it is a police action, and they are sending spoilers and provocateurs to peaceful crowds to justify the inhumane treatment of people who defend their rights, “Jo Ann Hardesty said Wednesday at a national conference, according to The Oregonian.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley reportedly spoke to her. Merkley has not responded to a Fox News request for comment on the city commissioner’s comments. Fox News also contacted Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, also a Democrat, for comment, but received no response.
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Portland has faced weeks of unrest since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25. In July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dispatched law enforcement to protect federal monuments and property, in particular the Hatfield Courthouse. Some local politicians and officials have accused DHS of escalating the situation and of harsh tactics.
Hardesty, however, went a step further and blamed the police for the fires near the courthouse. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf warned that if the police pull out, protesters will likely set fire to the court.
Hardesty, a Democrat, had echoed her complaint about police involvement to Marie Claire: “I’m old enough to remember that during the civil rights movement, the police had provocateurs … intentionally added to the group to do things disruptive. “
“I have no doubt in my mind, I believe with all my heart, that is what the Portland police are doing,” he said.
The claim quickly brought an angry response from local police, with Police Chief Chuck Lovell saying his claim “strains credulity.”
“I am interested to see what evidence you have to back up your allegations. I am disappointed that an elected official makes a statement like this without providing specific facts to support it, ”he said. “This accusation is completely false”
Hardesty later apologized and said, “He let my emotions take advantage of me during the advice and comment I made to the press.”
In a long statement, reported by KPTV, she said she was “angry, frustrated, and horrified by what happened in the past 50 days” and that she feared someone would be killed “due to an officer’s inability to scale down or walk away from A situation “.
She reiterated that in the civil rights movement, “people have been sent to infiltrate these spaces to create incidents that justify [enhanced] police actions, “but admitted that the claims were” unfounded. “
“We all have bad days, but most of them don’t happen publicly. I have always said that we can disagree without being unpleasant, but today I did not meet that standard, and I am sorry, “he said.
In the initial briefing, he also shot Mayor Ted Wheeler as he claimed that federal officials were targeting “sanctuary” cities that protect illegal immigrants from deportation by refusing to cooperate with the federal immigration police.
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“I asked the mayor: ‘Who do you think they are seizing from the street?’ Well, ah, ah, ”he said, imitating Wheeler, according to The Oregonian.
“And he says, ‘Well, a sanctuary city just means we don’t work with ICE.’ And I said, ‘Well, who do you think the border patrol works with?’ So we have an ignorance at the highest levels of the government of our city, “he said.
Wheeler attempted to participate in a “listening session” with protesters on Wednesday night, but was booed by the crowd.
