Mayor Wheeler Releases a Response to Presidential Debate

Today, Mayor Wheeler issued the following response to last night’s Presidential debate:

"Like a virus infecting our body politic, intimidation and hate are being spread by Donald Trump. The President’s behavior and comments last night are a stark reminder that our community must stand together against racism and hate. In the same way we fight a virus, our community can and will come together to prevent, treat and inoculate ourselves from the ugliness coming from Washington, D.C.

Yesterday morning, City leaders met with the Western States Center for a training about the history and tactics of white supremacy. We learned about its hallmarks, and how to recognize it. Then, last night, we saw it in action when Donald Trump refused to denounce white supremacy, and in his not-so-veiled call for his supporters to engage in intimidation at the polls and elsewhere.

We all have an opportunity and an obligation to stand against violence and hate. Our city and our nation are going through a historic transition. People are demanding racial justice and fundamental change in virtually all of our public institutions. The challenge of creating that change is monumental. Nowhere is that challenge more monumental than with our public safety institutions.

Those changes are made even more challenging by our President and by anyone engaged in violence and vandalism, regardless of their political beliefs.

I want to make it clear to the President and to our community: violence and hate have no place in Portland.

Those engaged in violence and hate are working in opposition to racial justice. They are creating the conditions that allow white supremacy and intimidation to thrive.

If we stand together we can prevent, treat and end the virus of violence, hate and intimidation infecting our community."