Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s proposal to send federal troops to protect the ICE facility in the city. The mayor asserted that there is no lawlessness or violence in Portland, dismissing the need for military intervention. Wilson claimed that the video footage showing alleged violence in the city was from five years ago and was being recycled.
In his statement, Wilson suggested that the federal government should send engineers, teachers, or outreach workers instead of sending troops, emphasizing that the city’s challenges could be better addressed by these groups. He expressed disappointment with the federal administration’s approach, saying it amounted to a ‘show of force’ that would not bring long-term solutions.
Wilson also highlighted Portland’s tradition of peaceful protest and its long history of being at the forefront of positive social change. The mayor urged the administration to provide more clarity on the meaning of ‘full force’ in the context of deploying troopers to the city. Despite the tensions, Wilson insisted that Portland remains committed to its values of peaceful activism and community engagement.