The violence in Portland Oregon has now escalated to an even higher level after roughly 100 days of directionless violent protests and riots connected to Antifa and the "Black Lives Matter" Marxist organization.

The leadership of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Oregon seems unable to anything other than exacerbate the dire situation, and are completely obsessed with "resisting Trump". Portland has now become a national disgrace and example of poor government leadership at the state and local levels.

Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury decided the best thing to do following a man's murder, was to blame Republicans who drove through Portland in an a patriotic caravan event in support of President Trump.

Kafoury even goes as far as calling the event a "white-supremacist agenda" with no evidence of such claims. The commissioner seems to be encouraging the ongoing riots that have plagued the region:

"Last night, an event that was clearly intended to intimidate, provoke and endanger individuals resulted in a fatality. The loss of life is tragic and unacceptable.

"We are witnessing the self-perpetuating cycle of violence fueled by white supremacy. We cannot forget that the protests Portland has seen for more than 90 days began in response to the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was then the latest victim of a long and horrendous history of police brutality against Black people, itself a feature of the systemic racism that poisons our country.

"While the overwhelming majority of protestors have engaged in non-violent demonstration to call for police accountability, racial justice and the dismantling of racist institutions, we have also seen instances of interpersonal violence, vandalism and destruction.

"Then last night — stoked by a president who has gone out of his way to demonize this city and encourage vigilantism in service to white supremacy and his own fragile ego — armed participants of a pro-Trump caravan terrorized downtown Portland, driving their vehicles and shooting paintballs and pepper spray directly at community members and journalists. They came to create confrontation and were able to do so.

"This tragedy will be used to justify escalating violence. It will be used to paint an entire movement with a broad and misleading brush. And sadly, it will be used by the occupant of the White House to deepen divisions and fear.

"Those of us who believe in, and are working toward, a more just and equitable community must take an unequivocal stand against the violence that structural racism inflicts on Black and other people of color, against violence inflicted by police, and against violence between community members.

"And the most effective way to do that is to stand for and build toward something better -- to engage in the hard work of transforming the public safety system, ensuring equal opportunity and making tangible progress toward racial justice. Multnomah County is doing that work now, and we are wholly committed to the long-term work ahead."

More cynical observers noted that the Republican caravan was a “mostly peaceful” event.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-08-30 12:05:34

Last Update: 2020-08-30 13:33:30