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

On 20 Jun 2025, Baxter <[email protected]> posted some 
news:[email protected]:

> "Leroy N. Soetoro" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> 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." 
>> 
>> 
> 
> A lot of these protests are completely peaceful until the cops start a 
> riot.

Odd how visual evidence seems in conflict with your observation.