Governor Kate Brown announced that she would authorize more police from several local agencies to staff protests in Portland and call for more arrests for destructive or violent crimes. The announcement came less than 24 hours after a fatal shooting during downtown demonstrations.
The six-point plan, laid out in a news release from Brown’s office on Sunday evening, also included plans for several local law enforcement agencies to assist Portland Police Bureau in follow-up investigations, and it listed specific types of crimes that the district attorney’s office will prosecute related to the protests.
“We must all come together — elected officials, community leaders, all of us — to stop the cycle of violence,” Brown said. “But this is only the first step. Real change will come from the hard work to achieve racial justice. And it starts with all of us listening to each other, and working together.
Brown condemned the violence that led to the fatal shooting Saturday night. The victim of the violence was identified as a “friend and supporter” of Vancouver, Washington-based right-wing group Patriot Prayer. Group founder Joey Gibson initially identified the man as Jay in a social media post, but a crowdfunding campaign and other sources later identified him as Aaron Danielson.
“The right-wing group Patriot Prayer and self-proclaimed militia members drove into downtown Portland last night, armed and looking for a fight,” Brown said. “Every Oregonian has the right to freely express their views without fear of deadly violence. I will not allow Patriot Prayer and armed white supremacists to bring more bloodshed to our streets.”
She said the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office will work with other agencies to hold people arrested for violent behavior at protests, and that they would ensure that there is enough jail space for those people. She said the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would prosecute serious criminal offenses related to the protests, including arson and physical violence.
Brown said Oregon State Police would resume staffing Portland protests, which she said would help allow Portland police to investigate violent crimes related to the protests. She said troopers would continue to wear body camera
She said she would personally appeal to three other agencies, Clackamas and Washington County sheriffs’ offices and Gresham Police Department, to send officers to staff the protests, while Portland officials would seek to reimburse those agencies.
Brown said the U.S. Attorney and FBI would help fund the investigation of crimes related to the protests.
The governor said she would also hold a community forum with Wheeler and Black protest organizers to discuss racial justice and police reform in Portland. She did not specify when that forum would happen.
—Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
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The Link LonkAugust 31, 2020 at 09:57AM
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/08/oregon-gov-kate-brown-to-send-state-troopers-to-help-police-protests-after-fatal-shooting.html
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to send state troopers to help police protests after fatal shooting - OregonLive
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