(BREITBART) Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler joined a violent demonstration in his city Wednesday night at which “protesters” threw flaming bags of garbage at a federal courthouse — and where he was jeered by the crowd before being tear gassed by federal officers.
The Oregonian reported that the mayor’s appearance on the 56th night of violent “protest” in downtown Portland “attracted attention and jeers from the crowd of more than 2,000 people” at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse.
USA Today reported: “The mayor was caught in a chaotic display of violence and mayhem that began around 11:15 p.m., after some protesters threw flaming bags of garbage over a fence protecting the local federal courthouse, prompting the federal officers to fire tear gas at the crowd.”
Video shot on the scene captured Wheeler at the fence around the courthouse, with flames burning in the background:
??.. le maire de la ville de #Portland, Ted #Wheeler est présent avec les manifestants…?#USAonFire #PortlandKidnappings #BlackLivesMatter #Trump #PoliceBrutality #BLM #ViolencesPolicieres #EtatsUnis pic.twitter.com/DCMY4W0SCc
— loran outan ?? (@loran076) July 23, 2020
Nonetheless, the Oregonian noted, the mayor, who is also the local police commissioner, had been determined to stand in solidarity with the crowd against federal law enforcement. ““The reason I am here tonight is to stand with you,” he told the crowd, the paper reported. “If they’re launching the tear gas against you, they’re launching the tear gas against me.”
Portland mayor Ted Wheeler withstands two rounds of tear gassing by federal law enforcement agents before being whisked off by his team to the city’s municipal services building. #PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/c9FmuVVhtU
— Deborah Bloom (@deborahebloom) July 23, 2020
That solidarity did not win the hearts and minds of the crowd, apparently: “Protesters greeted Wheeler’s arrival at the start of the night by chanting his name preceded by an expletive. The crowd often shouted to drown out what he was saying.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is entering the protest crowd right now. People are already confronting him. pic.twitter.com/H7uJSGYlma
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
“Tear gas Ted has got to go.” pic.twitter.com/rK2DK9YBuE
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
Wheeler attempted to acknowledge “systematic racism” and his own “privilege,” to no avail, as one video demonstrated:
The mob turns on Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. They demand total submission. pic.twitter.com/bXiM0lXFN8
— VoterRegistrationMD.357 (@ASimplePatriot) July 23, 2020
Later, fireworks were fired at the courthouse before the federal law enforcement officers deployed tear gas to dispel the crowd.
Wheeler is on the way out. pic.twitter.com/YNYr7x7ptH
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
As he left, “protesters” jeered and attempted to attack him:
Ah, the ‘protestors’ assaulted him. https://t.co/b2vbYKK3bQ
— BornAgainCovfefian (@covfefe_u) July 23, 2020
