A group of activist protestors organized a sit-in at Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s apartment building on Friday, demanding that he “reduce the Portland Police Bureau budget, commit to never voting for police budget increases again, and resign.”
The demand letter also commands Wheeler, who it labels as a “true embodiment of white supremacy” to “complete abolition of the Portland Police Bureau by 2022, with no private or technological replacement” and redirect the money from the PPB into social programs.
Folks have locked themselves in the lobby of Mayor Ted Wheeler’s apartment. Saying they won’t leave till the mayor comes and listens to their demands. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #PortlandProtest #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/9pYN9ItYP6
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 29, 2020
BREAKING: Activists occupy Portland mayor Ted Wheeler’s apartment and aren’t leaving until he: resigns, abolishes the police by 2022 with no tech or private replacement, and allots saved resources to BIPOC communities and city services. #TearGasTed #AbolishPPB #WheelerResign pic.twitter.com/V5NsRG9tH3
— Rising Tide NA (@RisingTideNA) August 29, 2020
Local news reports claim there were “about 10 people inside the lobby,” but that a larger crowd—estimated to include over 100 people—congregated outside the building playing loud music, dancing, chanting, and holding various signs.
Had to take a moment for Jaelin 🏀
Pivoting.
I am in front of Mayor Ted Wheeler’s home, where there’s something of block party happening. A handful of protesters are occupying the lobby. Metal(ish) music is playing#PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/F7lRPQePaq
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) August 29, 2020
Protesters dancing in the street in front of the Portland mayor’s apartment. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx #Portland #Oregon #BLM #PortlandProtest #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/i63dl4DvnD
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@hungrybowtie) August 29, 2020
Despite the protestors’ cries, Wheeler responded to them on Twitter. He thanked the protestors for their “powerful display of solidarity” and encouraged the protestors to “move forward with reform, recovery and resilience plans for PDX.”
Thank you Portlanders for a powerful display of solidarity at last night’s demonstrations. Racial justice requires the entire community to come together. Let’s continue to focus on the work ahead and move forward with reform, recovery and resilience plans for PDX.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) August 29, 2020
While the crowd of protestors outside the building dissipated later that night, rioters gathered around the Portland Police Association building and attempted to set it ablaze, ultimately choosing to light a dumpster mattress on fire instead. According to local news, “the situation was quickly declared a riot, and multiple arrests were made.”
A mattress was lit against the PPA bldg, accelerant was used. Police quickly declared a riot, several arrests made pic.twitter.com/Je3Dqg7TEO
— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) August 29, 2020
Over the last few months, Portland has suffered massive violence and damage from rioters protesting police brutality in light of George Floyd’s death. Many of these attacks by rioters have been targeted at the PPA, with destruction and vandalism even targeting a memorial to a fallen police officer.
