Portland,

Every time you turn on the news, there’s Portland – at the center of a national conversation about policing, racial justice, protests and the role of the federal government in our city.

We’re in the middle of one of the most dramatic transformations of our lifetime: the long overdue reckoning on America’s history of racism. 

While I am optimistic about the future we’re creating, I know this is an incredibly stressful time for all of you. The impact is even greater for those of you who are Black, Indigenous or people of color.  

I want to thank you for everything you do to serve our community. And I want to outline our path forward. 

Remove federal forces from Portland

The federal occupation of our community has brought a new kind of fear to our streets. Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core.  

Yesterday, Governor Brown and the Department of Homeland Security announced plans for a phased exit by federal forces. While the federal government is sending mixed signals about their intent to leave, I am cautiously optimistic that they will honor the plan they agreed to. 

I appreciate Governor Brown’s leadership in this discussion and her willingness to step in with State resources. The Governor and I agree: Oregon resources, expertise and values are sufficient to manage Oregon issues. 

We will continue to update you on the latest information we have from federal authorities. 

Oregon law enforcement must de-escalate conflict and build trust. 

The Oregon State Police, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Bureau will continue working together to keep Portlanders safe. The Governor and I have given clear direction: we expect that they will respect peaceful protests, make every attempt to de-escalate conflict and engage only if there is violent criminal activity. I am confident that the public servants of our Police Bureau share our goal of supporting peaceful protest, stopping violence, and ensuring that the City’s public safety system is responsive to our community’s values and expectations. 

This is an important step in building trust with our community, so we can make Portland a truly safe place for Black people, Indigenous people and people of color.  

We have made progress on policing reform, redirecting millions of dollars from the Police Bureau’s budget to community needs, removing police officers from schools, and supporting the Oregon Legislative People of Color Caucus platform for reforms to State law. Yesterday, City Council asked Portland voters to reimagine police accountability from the ground up. I look forward to Commissioner Hardesty’s continued leadership once voters approve the proposal this fall. 

Unite with our local and national leaders 

While progressive cities are under attack by the President, Portland is aligned with many other cities committed to meaningful reform. 

My fellow mayors and I have collectively called for removal of federal agents from our cities, investigation of their tactics, and legislation restricting their authority to operate in our cities. We took these extreme steps in the face of unwarranted, and we believe unconstitutional, abuse of federal power. 

We stand with our communities in addressing systemic racism. Protest is both a right and a civic duty, and it’s one that we will hold firm in protecting. Together, we are resisting the federal government’s attempt to stifle free speech and distract from the racial justice movement. 

Focus on Black lives

We cannot forget the tragedy that brought us to this moment: the death of George Floyd, under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. His murder, the latest in a long line, awakened many people to our nation’s long history of racism in policing and across all public institutions – problems that Black Americans have voiced for generations. 

We have committed to dismantling systemic racism, and building a community where Black people, Indigenous people and people of color experience the safety and well-being that most White people already enjoy. That means truly listening to Black voices, elevating their ideas and seeing them through. 

When I attended a protest last week, dozens of people fought through their anger to tell me what brought them downtown and where they believe our city should go from here. 

One story really sticks with me: a Black dad wanted to know how he’s supposed to talk to his 9-year-old, when he can’t trust the police to protect his family.  “What do I tell my son when he goes to his friend’s house or goes to school?” the man asked me. 

Here’s what I said: “That his father was there when we began the fundamental reform of policing that we have needed in this country for a long, long time.” 

That dad showed up. So have tens of thousands of Portlanders over these past two months. 

As public servants, we have the responsibility and the honor of showing up for this moment, too. I look forward to working alongside each of you in the coming months and years as we continue building a future that truly values Black lives. 

Sincerely,

Ted Wheeler