Police in Portland have been trying to control and suppress rioting for over 100 days. Now Mayor Ted Wheeler has told police to stop using tear gas.
Wheeler instructed his officers to give up this method of keeping peace even after rioters tried to set his apartment building on fire, forcing him to move house in order to protect the other residents and families in the building.
Mayor @tedwheeler announced that as police commissioner, he is banning @PortlandPolice from using tear gas under all circumstances. They were previously restricted to using it only on life safety emergencies, such as when rioters do arson attacks. pic.twitter.com/fgTzszDI6U
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 10, 2020
Wheeler said “It’s time for everyone to reduce the violence in our community. We all want change. We all have the opportunity and the obligation to create change. We all want to focus on the fundamental issue at hand. Justice for black people and all people and colour.
“That’s why as police commissioner, effective immediately, and until further notice I’m directing the Portland Police Bureau to end the use of CS gas for crowd control.”
Instead, he asks that a more less-lethal method of crowd control be implemented to prevent the rioters from committing arson, murder, and violent acts. This despite the fact that riots have plagued Portland for over 100 days…
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