To borrow a phrase: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” What’s happening in the United States is straight-up authoritarianism with Donald Trump apparently at war with the Black Lives Matter movement just months ahead of the election. The president sent the feds into Portland, where anti-racist protesters are being kidnapped and thrown into unmarked cars. This is Trump’s America, and it’s absolutely terrifying.
On Wednesday night, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, was tear-gassed by the U.S. government as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during yet another night of protest against the presence of federal agents sent by the president, according to the Associated Press.
Mayor Ted Wheeler said it was the first time he’d been tear-gassed, according to the AP, and he appeared slightly dazed and coughed as he put on a pair of goggles someone handed him and drank water. Wheeler said it stung, but remained at the protest with the sounds of federal agents deploying tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd. Again, this is Trump’s vision of America in real life where Democrats are punished for opposing his fascist takeover.
At first, Wheeler, who is serving as police commissioner during a period of transition, was mostly jeered and booed and calls for his resignation rang out as he tried to rally demonstrators who have clashed nightly with federal agents, but when he shouted out “Black Lives Matter” and pumped his fist in the air, the mayor was applauded.
Here is Wheeler being hit with tear-gas fumes:
Here’s the footage of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler becoming overwhelmed by a thick cloud of tear gas from federal officers.
STORY: https://t.co/60pvI5PEowpic.twitter.com/6eAsJX1pSx
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
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“It’s hard to breathe, it’s a lot harder to breathe than I thought,” Wheeler said after he was tear-gassed. “This is abhorrent. This is beneath us.”
After being tear-gassed, Wheeler said he “saw nothing to provoke this response” from federal officers.
Watch:
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says the tear gas stings. Says egregious overreaction from feds. Calls it urban warfare. pic.twitter.com/hrRICiNGHn
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
“I want to thank the thousands of you who have come out to oppose the Trump administration’s occupation of this city,” Wheeler told hundreds of residents gathered downtown near the federal courthouse. “The reason this is important is it is not just happening in Portland … we’re on the front line here in Portland.”
“President Trump needs to focus on coronavirus and get his troops out of the city,” he said. “My biggest fear is that somebody’s going to die. I want them to leave. This is going to come to a city near you if we don’t stop it.”
The AP reports:
A freelance photographer covering the protests for The Associated Press submitted an affidavit that he was beaten with batons, chemical irritants and hit with rubber bullets.”
This is alarming:
This afternoon I was made aware of concerns within the community that federal agents may be authorized to use live ammunition on demonstrators this evening.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 23, 2020
God help us all. We’re sure Susan Collins is very concerned, though. Malignant narcissists don’t care about the pain they cause others — or may even enjoy it and experience it as empowering. November is coming at you, Mr. Trump. Tick tock. We’ll return the pain.
Featured image via screen capture
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