Portland insurrectionist leaders reaffirm city's sanctuary city status ahead of 'No Kings' rallies

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/portland-leaders-
reaffirm-sanctuary-status-encourage-peaceful-protest/283-5eecfc0d-02fa-
4d87-9313-c593cc39f357

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Police Chief Bob Day — 
along with other city and county leaders — came together on Friday to 
express their support for the local immigrant community while reaffirming 
Portland's sanctuary status. 

They also encouraged unity and urged peaceful protest this weekend, as 
multiple "No Kings" anti-Trump rallies are planned to be held across the 
Portland metro area and the nation. The "No Kings" rallies coincide with 
President Donald Trump's birthday and his requested military parade in 
D.C.

The news conference and rallies come amid recent arrests in which at least 
four asylum seekers were detained outside Portland Immigration Court. The 
arrests are part of ongoing federal immigration enforcement raids 
happening across the U.S. as Trump follows through with his promise of 
mass deportations.

Protests continued Friday morning outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Portland, where Briana Nathanielsz 
said, "I've been here a couple days now, and we will be here all weekend." 

Nathanielsz's friend's dad was detained in Newberg this week. 

"Yesterday, Elandra came out from ICE building, crying," she said. "We all 
hugged her here — very peaceful protest — and her dad was taken in Newberg 
on his way to work. He just opened a vineyard, his own business this 
year." 

'SCARED AND FRUSTRATED': Arrest of 2 men in Newberg sparks fear, anxiety 
in Newberg community

Nathanielsz said her friend's dad was taken to the ICE facility in Tacoma, 
Wash. 

"Ruining families unnecessarily... he was a dad. It's sick. It's awful," 
she said. 

Across the city, local officials condemned these federal efforts. 

"Right now, communities in this country and across Multnomah County are 
under direct attack from a federal administration that is hostile to the 
values that we hold dear," said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega 
Pederson. 

"This is not a theoretical harm. This is a harm happening right here, 
right now, to families in our community, and it is not acceptable," added 
Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney. 

"As a proud sanctuary city in a sanctuary state, we are committed to 
protecting the rights and dignity of those who live here, working together 
to strengthen our community," Wilson said during the press conference. "We 
remain in constant dialogue with Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan 
Rayfield, carefully monitoring national events and accessing their impact 
on Portland."

Wilson said that the city of Portland will not obstruct federal law-
enforcement operations.

"At the same time, the Portland Police Bureau exists to serve and protect 
our community," Wilson said. "Our officers will not be used as agents of 
ICE."

Portland Police Chief Bob Day said he's commonly asked why police officers 
are at protests.

"We are not at these events to arrest people," Day said. "We are not at 
these events to try and agitate. We're not at these events to inflame. 
We're at these events for prevention and for service for all of 
Portlanders."

Watch the full news conference below:


Kotek shared a statement Friday afternoon.

"I support Oregonians' right to peacefully demonstrate — it is a 
cornerstone of American democracy. Please know I will do everything in our 
power to protect the rights and safety of our residents — including the 
rights and safety of our immigrant communities," Kotek said. "Violence, 
harm to public safety workers, destruction of property, or any illegal 
activity whatsoever will not be tolerated. State and local law enforcement 
have my full support to hold individuals who cross these lines 
accountable."

Kotek went on to say that she believes these types of acts "undermine the 
very values we are striving to uphold in Oregon and fracture our 
communities in the process. We are asking all Oregonians to remain safe, 
vigilant and to report any criminal activity."

Though city and state officials stressed the right to free speech and 
defending the community, they also reiterated that "violence, destruction 
and obstruction carry consequences," Wilson warned. 

This week, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declared that 
those "purposely endangering our ICE agents and our law-enforcement 
officers and their families will be prosecuted for what they are doing as 
far as perpetuating violence on them." 

This comes after 10 were arrested Thursday night outside the Portland ICE 
building for arson and disorderly conduct, among other offenses. Multnomah 
County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez confirmed that they will be 
prosecuted. 

"If you assault someone, if you burn things, if you decide to break 
things, you're going to deal with me," he said. 

But many residents, like Nathanielsz, said they intend to only "peacefully 
show up and protest against these mass deportations." 


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama 
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.