Democratic leaders on the state level in Oregon, as well as in Portland, are being dragged online for calling in National Guard troops to quell post-election rioting in the city after it had gone on for months.

Critics online accused Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, the latter of whom won reelection Tuesday, of allowing the rioting to go on all summer long while opposing President Donald Trump’s repeated offers of federal intervention because it played better for them politically.

“And now Ted Wheeler sees no benefit to them rioting and is cracking down immediately. People in that city were used for politics. Businesses were damaged for politics. So gross man,” one user wrote.

And now Ted Wheeler sees no benefit to them rioting and is cracking down immediately. People in that city were used for politics. Businesses were damaged for politics. So gross man.

— ark (@djark) November 5, 2020

“Election is over kids. Now the Governor is going to crackdown on these anarchists,” wrote another.

Election is over kids.

Now the Governor is going to crackdown on these anarchists

— Jonniepdq1 (@jonniepdq1) November 5, 2020

“Has Portland ever stopped the violence since May? They are calling in the guard now because calling them in prior to this would have meant accepting Trump’s offer. They are using the guise of election due to Pride. Should have been done months ago,” another wrote.

Has Portland ever stopped the violence since May? They are calling in the guard now because calling them in prior to this would have meant accepting Trump’s offer. They are using the guise of election due to Pride. Should have been done months ago.

— Ellie (@organic_ellie) November 5, 2020

Portland police said Guard troops were called into the city to help quell anarchist rioting Wednesday evening, the New York Post reported.

City authorities declared a riot after anarchists began destroying property downtown, which the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deemed “widespread violence.”

“In the interest of public safety, Governor Kate Brown, under the advice of the Unified Command, has activated the use of the Oregon National Guard to assist local law enforcement,” the agency said in a tweet.

Unified Command on National Guard activation: Widespread violence is occurring in Downtown Portland. In the interest of public safety, Governor Kate Brown, under advice of the Unified Command, has activated the use of the Oregon National Guard to assist local law enforcement… pic.twitter.com/kEnxcXipw1

— Multnomah Co. Sheriff’s Office (@MultCoSO) November 5, 2020

“Guard members are trained in crowd control and will be riding with local response teams. They are dressed in military-style garb, which is their uniform,” they added. “Oregon National Guard members are civilian community members helping to protect us. We don’t take this decision lightly. Under the Governor’s Order, we continue to work together and share our resources and information to address any public safety concerns.”

The violence in Portland has been ongoing since the George Floyd incident in May. Police in the city have repeatedly declared riots, but Guard troops have not been used to help local authorities quell them.

It’s unclear why Brown waited until now to deploy them.

During the violence, groups of anarchists smashed ATM machines, broke windows and destroyed part of a church that helps homeless and mentally ill people, the Post reported separately.

“Saint Andre Bessette Church is one of the many buildings that had their windows broken out during this evening’s riot,” the Sheriff’s Office tweeted early Thursday.

“This organization helps those who are homeless, experiencing poverty, mental health issues and substance abuse,” the department added.

Saint Andre Bessette Church is one of the many buildings that had their windows broken out during this evening's riot. This organization helps those who are homeless, experiencing poverty, mental health issues and substance abuse. https://t.co/0iVqp3tYyk

— Multnomah Co. Sheriff’s Office (@MultCoSO) November 5, 2020

Brenna Kelly, a reporter for Fox12 Oregon, videoed the destruction while chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “All Cops Are B**tards” can be heard in the background.

Saint André Bessette Church has windows bashed out. Down the street, people throw things out of windows at this group. @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/YVknkdlbFL

— Brenna Kelly (@BrennaKellyNews) November 5, 2020

Meanwhile, the contentious presidential election still has not been decided, though as of this writing, Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads President Trump in electoral ballots 253-214.

Predictions of post-election violence led Brown and other governors to tap National Guard troops and either deploy them ahead of time or place them on standby.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jon Dougherty

Staff Writer
[email protected]

Jon is a staff writer for BizPac Review with 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.

Latest posts by Jon Dougherty (see all)

• Jan. 6 committee chair Benny Thompson offers a stunning take on potential Trump criminal actions - January 2, 2022
• Life-long New Yorker posts ‘sad’ Twitter ode on post-pandemic Big Apple being ‘shadow of its former self’ - January 2, 2022
• NYPD officer shot in head in police lot as he slept in vehicle between shifts - January 2, 2022

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.