Portland Mayor Claims Victory as Parkrose Residents Stay Away from Uncontrolled Political Violence

After a day of uncontrolled violence between far-right and far-left protesters in both downtown and northeast Portland, the city’s mayor and police commissioner say the practical approach is serve to mitigate the violence that many hoped would take place on the birthday of one of Portland’s cruelest street fights.

As promised, Portland police did not respond most of the day. A statement issued on Friday said officers would not intervene at the time, but would monitor the violence and property damage in hopes of making arrests later.

Nearly 22 hours after fighting broke out between the two sides in the Parkrose community and gunfire was exchanged in the city center, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the city ​​approach was a victory.

“This time, the violence was contained in groups of people who chose to engage in violence against each other,” Wheeler said. “The community in general was not harmed and the general public was protected. The material damage was minimal. “

Requests for comments from the four Portland City commissioners went largely unanswered Monday. (Commissioner Mingus Mapps accepted an interview Wednesday.) Commissioners have not scheduled a city council session this week, citing the “lack of an agenda.”

Political violence culminated on Sunday afternoon, when shots were fired through downtown Portland leaving passers-by and journalists to dodge behind vehicles. Police arrested Gennisham resident 65-year-old Dennis G. Anderson, who faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was released Monday on $ 750 bail. Police called for help from the public to search for a second gunman who reportedly shot Anderson.

This is the latest in a saga of political violence taking over the city. Although these latest clashes between members of the far-right group Proud Boys and anti-fascists were relatively small, they were potentially deadly, disruptive and unpleasant.

“This past weekend, we witnessed another attempt by far-right extremists to sow intolerance and hatred in our community, this time in Parkrose and near my district high school in the northeast of Portland, ”Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal told OPB in a statement. “The violence that followed was unnecessary and disruptive for our community, causing a lot of unnecessary pain and fear for the people who live there.”

Police agencies monitored the day’s events from a joint information center. Oregon State Police said he had a soldier present. Multnomah County Sheriff’s spokesman Chris Liedle said the office notified the Portland Police Office that there were deputies represented at the center’s justice center to protect the jail.

“In the event of a major emergency, such as an officer drop-off or a mass drop, our MPs would respond, as we would expect any agency to do so,” Liedle said in an email.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt turned down an interview to talk about Sunday’s violence. Portland police also refused to make Chief Chuck Lovell available for an interview.

Sunday’s events came amid what appears to be a rudder-free public safety strategy with limited capacity to engage in law enforcement after the rapid response team from the Police Office Portland abruptly left in June. As a result of declining police force, some law enforcement officials point out that criminal gangs, politically violent groups and private security have gone into the void.

The violence that took place in Parkrose on Sunday has been examined because of the Proud Boys ’decision to divert their event from the Portland Waterfront to one of the most diverse communities in the state. The skirmish between the two sides disrupted traffic northeast of 122nd Avenue between Shaver Street and Sandy Boulevard, and even crept into the Parkrose High School property, where fighting continued and took place. damaged several cars.

Parkrose’s political and educational leaders expressed frustration Monday that the PPB would allow a rally of Proud Boys in the nearby abandoned parking lot to spread across the street, where anti-fascist protesters had also gathered to clash.

“At least from the moment the confrontation left Kmart’s parking lot, police should have intervened,” said State Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat who represents a large swath of the Parkrose community. “The shots in the city center show us what could well have happened in Parkrose. It is unacceptable that there are only police hands, especially when there are neighborhoods involved.

Jayapal said residents of Multnomah County have made it clear when they want police to intervene: in cases of domestic violence, firearms and when people parachute into their community “defending hatred and violence.” He added, community members deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods and homes.

“The lack of a police presence in Parkrose worries me,” Jayapal said. “I have recently been in contact with local law enforcement about response times to incidents of intimate partner violence, gun violence and unsafe car racing. I continue to worry about how and when law enforcement respond to the needs of our community. “

Many neighbors said they had no warning to reach their community. According to Annette Stanhope, president of the Parkrose Neighbors Association, she received no notification from the city of Portland that there could be violence in her community.

According to Molly Ouche, principal of Parkrose High School, the city was slow to communicate with school and district leaders about what happened Sunday.

“I think different decisions could have been made throughout that,” Ouche said. “Recognition is obviously often the first step to healing yourself and ignoring a situation because maybe mistakes were made. I don’t think it’s very productive.”

Ouche wondered why the city and police did not change their response if they knew the Proud Boys (a far-right and often violent group) were diverting the event to one of the city’s racially diverse neighborhoods.

He also said the lack of response perpetuates a deep feeling among area residents that neighborhoods like Parkrose don’t see as much investment in services or policing.

“Send this message: where does Parkrose fit into the city of Portland?” He said Ouche. “We’re part of it, but yesterday it didn’t look like that.”

Parkrose School District Superintendent Michael Lopes Serrao said the same question went through his head and he wondered if the police would have stayed in their hands-on strategy if the Proud Boys had shown up at Eastmoreland .

He said he is concerned about what kind of impact the scenes of violence will have on his students.

“We live here. This is where we meet, ”he said. “Our children see this happening in the backyard. And I think it sends them a message that we don’t care so much if this happens in this part of the city. “

Oregon House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, a Democrat, represents an area of ​​the city that encompasses much of the Parkrose community.

Smith Warner told OPB on Monday she was appalled to see extremist militant groups – some of which took part in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol – terrorizing her “vibrant and diverse” district.

“Those who took part in violent acts: they are not welcome here,” Smith Warner said in a statement. “I look forward to working with local, state and even national leaders. Together, we must hold those involved in violent and anti-democratic hate groups accountable. Our democracy, our security and our future depend on it.”