Subterms
Democrat says president has failed in his duty to care for entire country
Attorney general bemoans the ‘demonization of police’ after Floyd’s killing at House committee hearing
Twitter restricts Donald Trump Jr’s account over Covid misinformation
Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
LIVE
Updated More
Senate Republicans’ plan would cut $600 benefit through September
Fauci: ‘We’re leaving an open mind’ to what’s possible
John Lewis’s casket arrives at US Capitol to lie in state
National security adviser tests positive for coronavirus
How the global climate fight could be lost if Trump is re-elected
Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
LIVE
Updated More
Kayleigh McEnany defends Trump’s push to reopen amid pandemic
President says he ‘often’ regrets his tweets
Ice’s ex-acting head: Trump is using federal agents as his ‘goon squad’
Trump claims bases named for Confederate generals won’t change
Florida hospitals stretched to capacity by outbreak
Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
LIVE
Updated More
President says it is ‘not the right time’ for big event in city
US coronavirus cases surpass 4 million
Federal agents’ actions draw Portland into national debate
AOC condemns culture of accepting violence against women
Trump ties climbing Covid-19 cases to protests
Trump announces ‘surge’ of officers into cities
Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
LIVE
Updated More
Portland
Democrat Ted Wheeler gives backing to protesters against ‘Trump’s occupation of this city’
Play Video
1:14
Portland mayor teargassed by federal agents during protest – video
Portland’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, has accused Donald Trump of conducting “urban warfare” after he was caught up in the teargassing of protesters by federal forces sent to quell Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the city.
But Wheeler, who was left gasping for air by the teargas, was himself the target of anger and mockery from activists who accused him of sending the city police to attack other protests.
“I’m not going to lie. It stings. It’s hard to breathe, and I can tell you with 100% honesty I saw nothing that provoked this response,” Wheeler said as he stood with protesters outside the federal courthouse that has become the focus of confrontation.
“This is flat-out urban warfare, and it’s being brought on the people of this country by the president of the United States, and it’s got to stop now.”
Protests into the early hours of Thursday morning were more contained than in previous nights after the authorities were finally able to erect a fence around the courthouse that could withstand attack by demonstrators.
Protesters quickly tore down barriers on other nights but the stronger fortification kept them from reaching the front of the courthouse which meant members of the Department of Homeland Security taskforce sent by Trump largely remained behind the fence firing teargas over it.
But the standoff showed how far the federal forces have fallen short of the president’s pledge to restore order in Portland, a liberal city with a long history of street protest.
The DHS taskforce is largely trapped inside the courthouse grounds with the protesters generally controlling the streets outside.
Earlier in the evening, Wheeler, who as mayor is also Portland’s police commissioner, attempted to reassure protesters at a large and peaceful demonstration that he was committed to police reform. But he was met with jeers and forced to admit that change had not come quick enough.
“Obviously we have a long way to go,” Wheeler told the crowd.
Large numbers of people at the demonstration remained sceptical of the man derided in graffiti as “Ded Wheeler” and “Fed Wheeler”.
“He’s two-faced,” said Jennifer Bradley, a grandmother who joined the Wall of Moms formed to act as a shield between the protesters and the police. “Wheeler’s been on the side of the police when it was attacking Black Lives Matters before the feds arrived. I don’t think he’s done anything to support this movement.”
A daily ritual has evolved in which thousands of protesters rally to the Black Lives Matter cause toward sundown in front of Portland’s justice center which holds the police department and county jail. More
Portland
Civil rights leaders in Oregon say the Trump administration’s involvement has upped the stakes on what was a localized conflict More
Donald Trump has cited Black Lives Matter protests against the police killing of George Floyd as among the likely causes of the recent surge in coronavirus cases.The US president did not blame the anti-racism demonstrations directly but suggested that they “presumably” led Americans to lower their guard against the pandemic.“There are likely a number of causes for the spike in infections cases,” Trump told reporters at his second briefing on the virus in two days following a three-month impasse. “Cases started to rise among young Americans shortly after demonstrations, which you know very well about, which presumably triggered a broader relaxation of mitigation efforts nationwide.”Public health experts say there is little evidence that the protests spread Covid-19 in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington or other cities. They took place outdoors, where the virus spreads less easily, and most participants wore face masks, which Trump has conceded is an effective preventive measure.Dhaval Dave, the lead author of a study at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, told the Associated Press that in many cities, the protests actually seemed to lead to a net increase in physical distancing, as more people who did not protest decided to stay off the streets.Trump, who has sought to conflate the protests with looting and violence, did not say they were the sole reason for the virus resurgence. Speaking at the White House, he went on: “A substantial increase in travel also was a cause, increased gathering on holidays such as Memorial Day as well as young people closely congregating at bars, and probably other places. Maybe beaches.“Four or five different listed places – we have 12 that are listed on the guide – likely also contributed.”But he then made a surprise segue to a favourite talking point, claiming that his wall on the US-Mexico border had helped prevent further infection.“We’re also sharing a 2,000-mile border with Mexico, as we know very well, and cases are surging in Mexico, unfortunately,” Trump said. “I was with the [Mexican] president and it’s a big problem for Mexico, but cases are surging very sharply and all across the rest of the western hemisphere.”He added: “Two hundred and fifty miles of newly constructed wall along the southern border has had a great positive impact on people coming in, and we have record low numbers of people coming in illegally that’s helped greatly. It was really meant for a different purpose but it worked out very well for what we’re doing right now and for the pandemic.”Critics have pointed out that the uptick in coronavirus cases, now killing more than 1,000 people a day, coincided with states reopening bars, restaurants and other businesses at Trump’s urging and against guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trump appeared solo again at Wednesday’s briefing, without public health experts, and claimed the pandemic response “is all going to work out – it is working out”.Afterwards Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, said: “Instead of confronting this crisis head-on, Donald Trump has waved the white flag of defeat, with top advisers saying that Trump’s ‘not really working this any more’ and that he ‘doesn’t want to be distracted by it’.“Trump’s failure to lead is so complete that even top Republicans are speaking up, with a key aide to Texas governor Greg Abbott describing Trump as ‘bored’ of dealing with Covid-19.” More
Fifteen mayors ask Trump to withdraw officers from Portland
Trump admits pandemic will ‘get worse’ at first briefing in months
Republican congressman apologizes for exchange with AOC
Hundreds of Yosemite visitors may have had coronavirus
Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
LIVE
Updated More
