Thread by @45thabsurdist

So I decided to tune into the “choose love” press conference by Ted Wheeler. So far singers are singing about choose love and following god.

I wonder if the mayor will address the concerns about far right extremists coming into Portland to fight people

Here are some of the groups asking for action this morning:

https://twitter.com/moveradicallyl1/status/1428760309892792327

Apparently Ted would like to address the multitude of problems facing Portland by asking residents to “Choose love”. I’m not shitting you. That’s his opening speech.

He declares that the city “will not tolerate acts of violence, destruction, or prejudice.”

The metro president Lynn Johnson actually says “I don’t think that proud boys are going to listen when we say we don’t want their hate in our city”. Actually addressing the issue at hand instead of making vague platitudes. She would like people to not go fight

Deborah Kafoury manages to mention of white supremacy into her comments. She even acknowledges that they are coming to the city to “pick fights”. And makes a real statement about denouncing ideologies of hate. However she would like people to not fight, hospitals are full.

I love that he did that while not mentioning anything that was going on this weekend

Eric Ward from the Western States Center ties last August far right rallies to the coup attempt in January. He also recognizes that the groups coming on the 22 are planning on committing violence.

He loves the coalition that is here to denounce hate and wants state and local leaders to step up to stop people from traveling to vomit violence. This is interesting considering the statement from the police that they would be functionally useless this weekend.

Neat that Amy Spitalnick from Integrity First, at least, seems focused on the threat of far-right extremism and racist/xenophobic hate crimes. She says it’s important not to draw “both sides” false equivalence. So far all speakers have explicitly named white supremacist violence.

Oh, except for Ted Wheeler.

And Amy introduced the Portland Business Alliance Guy. Let’s see how Andrew Hoan does.

Oh. He views this as a seasonal threat. Like fire season.

“Hatred and violence are not just a business issue”

Hey remember when Nike hired patriot prayer as private security?

“Choose love” says the Portland Business Alliance. Also the PBA: teenvogue.com/story/business…

Neil Lee of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association talked a bunch about the problems of violence tied to the pandemic, but wants both right and left to rise above hate. So um. Neat.

Basic Rights Oregon makes strong statements that the police do not protect us, and turn a blind eye to far-right threats to the queer community and other marginalized people. And then turns it over to the AFL-CIO.

Graham Trainor of the AFL-CIO also names the problem of white supremacy, and declares the labor movement’s intention to be “co-conspirators” with marginalized communities and those most affected this weekend, and going forward.

Ted again. He loves our artists, musicians and “everybody who has gotten us to this point and thank you for choosing love”. Still not a single mention about far right extremism, not a single word about how the city will counter repeated attacks on vulnerable populations

He’s very excited to be in venue downtown tho. It’s a pub. It’s a business. He loves all the businesses!
….

And I guess that’s all he’s got to say

The brown sisters have lovely voices but this song is painfully inane.

Maybe Ted can hum “I choose love” to himself this weekend while strolling through the clouds of mace that the chuds will be covering the waterfront with.

Anyway. That’s it. #ChooseLove over. Ted’s goin back to brunch. It sounds like the queers and the labor movement are ready to throw down to defend our community this weekend, wyd?

One of the guys Nike hired for security at their downtown store, for context.

https://twitter.com/eats_master/status/1428811267867774977

kgw.com/mobile/watch Ted had to keep things short to make this presser. He just said that he’s had a lot of productive conversations with “RRT leadership” & wants them to feel supported. RRT disbanded itself after the DA filed charges against several of its violent members.

before the press conference ended, Chuck Lovell was asked if his department would make any changes due to H*ley Adams announcement that her group's far-right event would be moved from the waterfront.

The PPB chief, who was definitely using a zoom background of the PPB's podium, said he didn't know anything about the event, which is one of two far-right rallies announced in downtown Portland for the 22nd. He then said that PPB had people watching social media.

Lovell had previously reiterated that PPB would not attempt to separate the far right from the people they are intent on attacking, and had vaguely handwaved a question about whether PPB had coordinated with/asked assistance from MCSO or OSP.