Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has attributed the ongoing unrest in Portland to actions by federal agents, stating that their presence is escalating tensions with protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building.
In a statement shared via PBS, Kotek said, “This is not a war zone. We don’t have a challenge here in terms of managing lawful demonstrations outside the ICE building. And I believe that they are looking back at information from 2020 and assuming this is the same. Look, lawful demonstrations happen in the city of Portland outside of this facility. It is being managed. What I’m seeing and what we’re seeing and what the mayor is seeing on the ground is an escalation from the agents who are protecting the building, trying to antagonize those protesters who are there.”
She continued, “And I would like to de-escalate the situation. We don’t need a military intervention. And let’s remember the federal judge agreed with that argument, not once, but twice. The federal government has not made a compelling case, based on the evidence on the ground, that there is an actual problem as it relates to being an insurrection or a rebellion or whatever they think this is.”
Kotek’s comments come amid continued protests in Portland and debate over how law enforcement agencies should respond to demonstrations near federal facilities.
