“Itchy. It’s hard to breathe. I can tell you 100% honestly that I didn’t see anything that triggered this response,” Wheeler told the Times camera. “I am not afraid but I am angry.”
At this time it is unknown who is responsible for the deployment of tear gas and, at this time, there is nothing to indicate that the mayor was the target. CNN has contacted the mayor’s office for additional comments.
“It is an unconstitutional occupation. The tactics that have been used by our federal officials are abhorrent. They did not act with probable cause, people are not told who they are being arrested for, and they are denied basic constitutional rights,” said the mayor to the crowd.
“That is a use of police force, the federal police for political purposes,” Wheeler said. “That is not an acceptable solution anywhere in the United States,” the mayor told the crowd.
Some of the comments from the crowd on Wednesday echoed similar concerns.
“They have repeatedly raped me, shot me with tear gas and ammunition, my body is bruised and swollen,” a protester who identified himself as a high school administrator told the mayor. “I want to know what you are going to do, commit to me, as a committed educator to my community to make sure my First Amendment right is upheld.”
The Mayor replied, “I will do absolutely everything in my power to get rid of federal troops and reform the Portland Police Office. We need to do both.”
A vote to end police cooperation with federal agencies
Wednesday night’s discussion followed a unanimous vote by the Portland City Council to end cooperation between the Portland Police Office and federal agencies tasked with protecting federal property on Wednesday, Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said it’s a statement.
“Today I presented two resolutions: one to stop cooperating between the Portland Police Office and the federal occupiers, and the other to affirm the rights of members of the press and legal observers covering protests against police brutality.” The statement read.
“I am pleased to share that both resolutions were unanimously adopted by the City Council.”
Eudaly said the resolution could serve as an example for other cities and as a “call to national action.”
“I stand in solidarity with the protesters who defend black lives, who demand racial justice and the transformation of our justice system, but whether you agree with the protesters or not, if you believe in the United States Constitution, you must oppose the actions. of this president and the violent repression of individuals who exercise their constitutional rights, “said Eudaly.”
‘Something from a dystopian science fiction series’
In evaluating the current situation, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the Trump administration deploying federal agents for the protests was “terrible to see.”
“This looks like something out of a dystopian science fiction series about a police state in the United States, but it is real,” Garcetti said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Garcetti said Wheeler told him that violence and protests were starting to subside and that “federal agents have done nothing more than shake that up.”
“This is completely out of your lane, it may be unconstitutional,” said Garcetti.
“It is one thing for a city to apply for federal aid, it is another thing for federal agents to enter without invitation,” Garcetti said.
CNN’s Sarah Moon contributed to this report.
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