It’s alarming and downright scary to hear Trump saying that he’s sending the National Guard into Portland. There’s the potential for damage to our city — not to mention violent clashes. Here’s some context to help understand what’s happening:
What did Trump do?
For weeks, Trump has been threatening to send troops into Portland. Over the weekend, Trump federalized 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to be deployed to Portland. They are among 2,000 troops whom the President is calling up across the country.
When could troops be here?
What’s the point of sending troops?
Trump previously lumped Portland in with other supposedly crime-ridden cities, but now he appears focused on Portland protesters and protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. (Reality check: No more than 30 protesters were showing up at ICE protests before this weekend.)
Trump’s statement over the weekend claims he’s sending “troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
How are elected officials responding?
“The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city,” Mayor Keith Wilson said in a statement over the weekend. “Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it.”
Trump has been widely condemned by Oregon’s Democratic elected officials. The city and the state have filed a federal lawsuit, and sought a temporary restraining order, to block the action.
What do Portland police say?
They are saying they don’t need assistance. And an assistant chief testified last week that federal agents were instigating conflicts with protesters.
Oregon is suing. Could the court actions prevent this?
A federal court has said Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles last June was illegal. Though the decision is being appealed, that legal ruling does seem to have dissuaded Trump from sending troops into Chicago. As of Monday afternoon, it’s not clear if Oregon and Portland’s legal actions will prevent the troops from arriving.
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