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Portland Democratic mayor condemns protests by ‘anarchists’

Ted Wheeler, the Democratic mayor of the US city of Portland

The Democratic mayor of Portland in the US state of Oregon has condemned "radical antifa and anarchists" after a night of protests in the city on New Year's Eve.

Ted Wheeler called for federal, state, county and local law enforcement "to convene to deal with anarchist violence as soon as possible,”  at a press conference on New Year's Day.

“My good faith efforts at de-escalation have been met with ongoing violence and even scorn from radical antifa and anarchists,” he said. “In response, it will be necessary to use additional tools and to push the limits of the tools we already have to bring the criminal destruction and violence to an end.”

The mayor further suggested that those causing destruction must be  "required to meet with those whose businesses they damaged."

“Why would a group of largely white, young and some middle-age men destroy the livelihood of others who are struggling to get by?”

Calls for more prosecutions and accountability follow claims that protesters caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage in downtown Portland.

The city, which has lately been an epicenter of protests in the United States, again saw officers and protesters clashing amid outrage over police brutality and racial discrimination against people of color.


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