Portland Mayor, Ted Wheeler, was tear gassed alongside protesters on Wednesday Night.
The city of Portland has been in the spotlight as of late. With protests and demonstrations taking place most nights, tension has been rising. Alongside President Trump’s criticisms of the city and it’s leadership, the ongoing presence of Federal Officers has not been taken well.
On the night of Wednesday, July 22nd, Mr. Wheeler joined protesters outside the Federal Courthouse. Federal officers met protesters in camouflage and gear, deploying tear gas into the crowd.
“I’m not going to lie — it stings; it’s hard to breathe,” Mr. Wheeler said. “And I can tell you with 100 percent honesty, I saw nothing which provoked this response.”
Mr. Wheeler’s words came directly from footage posted to Twitter from the night of the protest.
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
Despite his efforts, Mr. Wheeler found himself on the receiving end of many individuals’ anger.
While making his way through the crowds, objects were occasionally thrown in Mr. Wheeler’s direction. Certain individuals called for the mayor’s resignation, chanting, “Tear Gas Teddy.”
“A lot of these people hate my guts,” Mr. Wheeler said in an interview taken during the protest. Despite the hostility, however, Wheeler encouraged that they were unified by a common goal: wanting federal officers gone.
