Two days after Portland made national news for dueling demonstrations that erupted in violent street brawls, the mayor’s office fielded complaints from callers as his new public safety adviser answered media questions from across the U.S., The Oregonian reports. A receptionist in Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office assured a caller that the mayor doesn’t “condone’’ the violence but can’t prohibit protests. Public safety adviser Robert King told reporters that police are directed to enforce all laws as they’re “able to’’ and work to keep feuding demonstrators separated. The city filled with protesters of all stripes Saturday as Proud Boys followers, a #HimToo movement organizer and black-clad supporters of Rose City Antifa, many hiding their faces with dark motorcycle helmets or bandanas, converged.
Police are struggling with how to prevent demonstrations from dissolving into bloody bedlam. Officers declared “civil disorder” as at least three people were assaulted, two in bloody brawls videotaped by observers and shared on social media. A third person, conservative writer Andy Ngo, was kicked, punched and showered with milkshakes in another video that went viral. Critics blamed police for not acting more quickly to break up the attacks. The complaints came mostly from right-wing demonstrators. In the past, police have come under fire from left-wing demonstrators for not protecting them. Police arrested three people in the weekend fights. “The acts of a select group of violent individuals do not define Portland but do have a negative impact on all of us,’’ said Police Chief Danielle Outlaw. Police union President Daryl Turner said past criticism of officers from City Hall has “tied’’ the hands of officers. He urged the mayor to proclaim that city won’t tolerate violence from “both Antifa and Proud Boys’’ and “remove the handcuffs’’ restraining police from stopping violence “through strong and swift enforcement.’’