By Penny Starr
Democrat Oregon Governor Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency in Portland for the first time, apparently in response to the anticipated arrival this weekend of right-wing protesters.
Left-wing protesters have staged almost nightly riots in the city for more than three months.
Brown’s order gives authority to the Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office to control crowds expected on Saturday as the far-right Proud Boys are expected to rally in Portland.
This means that the Portland Police Bureau will follow the lead of those two law enforcement agencies,
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported on the development.
In a press conference announcing the decision, Brown cited a pattern that has repeatedly played out in the city when far right demonstrators hold rallies to provoke counterprotesters and soon devolve into violent street brawls.
State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton said the governor’s decision would lead to a massive influx of state troopers into North Portland, starting Saturday morning.
The governor declined to give figures for how many law enforcement officers from various agencies would be coming into the city, but said she was “confident that law enforcement is adequately resourced to tackle the situation.”
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Johny Smith
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