After rejecting Trump's offer to help stop riots, Portland mayor is forced to move out of cushy condo due to Antifa violence



Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler was forced to move from his condominium home due to threats by protesters just a week after forcefully rejecting an offer from President Donald Trump to help quell the violence.

Wheeler wrote a letter to his neighbors informing them that he was moving in order to avoid more violence from protesters at the condominium.

"I want to express my sincere apologies for the damage to our home and the fear that you are experiencing due to my position. It's unfair to all of you who have no role in politics or in my administration," read the letter according to The Oregonian, which obtained a screenshot of the message.

He went on to say that it would be best for him "and for everyone else's safety and peace" to move from the condominium.

Protesters have protested outside the mayor's condominium for several days to seek his resignation and demanding that the police department be drastically defunded.

In videos posted on social media, the protesters were captured playing very loud disruptive music, shining bright lights at the building, barricading themselves in the lobby, and even destroying property outside the building.

The Oregonian reported that Wheeler bought the two-bedroom condominium apartment in 2017 for $820,000.

"Politics of division and demagoguery"

Wheeler had previously rejected the president's offer to send federal officers to help stop the rioting and looting in Portland in a scathing letter. He accused Trump of trying to use the protests to aid in his political campaign to be re-elected in November.

"We don't need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you," wrote Wheeler.

"We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic. And we know you've reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection," he added.

Wheeler went on to claim that the president's previous efforts to ostensibly stop the protests actually made the violence worse. He concluded by saying, "Stay away, please."

When asked if Wheeler had responded to the latest offer from the Trump administration, Acting Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cucinelli had a humorous response on Fox Business.

"Not yet. We have not yet, he's probably busy picking out real estate agents!" he snarked.

Here's more about the chaos in Portland:

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to move after riots in his neighborhood: Reportwww.youtube.com

Portland cop chases Antifa rioter and tackles him to street. But when leftist pulls off cop's helmet, all bets are off.



Antifa rioted in Portland yet again Monday night.

Rioters set a fire on the ground floor of the high-rise condominium where far-left Mayor Ted Wheeler lives, the Oregonian said, and — given it was the mayor's birthday — wore party hats and sang "happy tear gas to you" before the festivities began.

Here's a peek at how they helped him celebrate:

Antifa rioters set off fireworks at @tedwheeler’s NW Portland condo. They’ve also started a large fire on the stree… https://t.co/oyxi5pDR2L
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1598940219.0

But on this 96th consecutive night of mayhem in the city, police weren't playing.

After a riot was declared, officers got to work:

Police bull rush and push protestors to the ground https://t.co/vjAbCn7Met
— Sergio Olmos (@Sergio Olmos)1598940734.0

Journalist Sergio Olmos noted that police soon enacted a second bull rush on rioters. And in the sequence Olmos caught on video below, one officer runs ahead of the pack, grabs an Antifa militant, and tackles him to the street.

But the black-clad leftist — flat on his back while the cop is on top of him — apparently still has a little bit of resistance in him and pulls the officer's helmet from his head.

The officer proceeds to repeatedly punch the militant:

Here is the longer clip of the second bull rush, this is the second incident tonight of police officers punching pr… https://t.co/nR3gbwFYNy
— Sergio Olmos (@Sergio Olmos)1598942606.0

All in all, the Oregonian said police arrested 19 people in connection with Monday night's rioting.

Eight arrestees were charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer, the paper said, adding that two were accused of carrying concealed weapons — with one of them also accused of attempted assault on a public safety officer. It isn't clear what charges, if any, the Antifa rioter who pulled off the officer's helmet faces.

More from the Oregonian:

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has said his office won't pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police and disorderly conduct, among other charges, if the allegations don't involve "deliberate'' property damage, theft or force against another person, or threats of force.

The office also won't prosecute people on a riot accusation alone. Prosecutors will proceed with a riot case only if it includes an accompanying allegation of specific property damage or use of force, Schmidt said last month.

How did folks react to the cop's punches?

Journalist Andy Ngo posted Olmos' clip of the officer punching the Antifa rioter on his Twitter page, and reactions were mixed. In fact, it appeared that most commenters weren't happy that a police officer used such force — but still a number of others said it's been a long time coming based on three months of lawlessness and violence against police:

  • "This is my favorite clip of the night," one commenter wrote.
  • "I think the cop should receive the same punishment as most of these rioters: release without bail and no follow-up on the charges," another commenter quipped.
  • "The feel good image of the summer," another commenter said.
  • "Dude knocked the cops helmet off trying to resist, got his melon knocked a few times," another user noted. "These people have been assaulting cops for more than 3 months. DA Mike Schmidt is responsible for this. Stop the catch and release, hold these people accountable."
  • "Next we will see footage of this clown calling them pussies and doing something...up to the point of slammed...then he cries 'ugh I'm not fighting you' LOL...funny how the 'bold' become the spineless..." another commenter said.

Black Lives Matter protesters chain themselves together in lobby of Mayor Ted Wheeler's condo, riots erupt in Portland



A group of Black Lives Matter protesters chained themselves together inside the lobby of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's condo on Friday night. The sit-in was part of a larger demonstration outside of Wheeler's apartment, where approximately 150 people gathered to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

At around 7 p.m., approximately one dozen BLM protesters assembled inside the lobby of progressive mayor's apartment complex in the Pearl District. The group vowed to stay locked inside the lobby until Wheeler heard their demands. The group left three hours later.

The group demanded that Wheeler reduce the Portland Police Bureau budget, commit to never voting for police budget increases again, abolish the police bureau, and for the Democratic mayor to resign.

"Specifically, we demand that you and your fellow city leaders immediately develop a task force to plan for a 50% reduction of the Portland Police Bureau budget by 2021, and a complete abolition of the Portland Police Bureau by 2022, with no private or technological replacement," the Portland group demanded. "This timeline gives existing police officers ample time to find and train for alternative, meaningful work that benefits the community."

"Furthermore, we demand that the resources saved from the abolition of the Portland Police Bureau be re-invested into Black, Indigenous, and Brown communities, community-centered health and safety, and city services and programs that address the root causes of violence, crime, and inequality," the group added. "We also demand that you - with your extreme wealth, nepotistic career history, and family legacy that highlight you as a true embodiment of white supremacy - resign from your position as the Police Commisioner and Mayor of Portland."

PORTLAND: You do realize protesters are occupying mayor @tedwheeler’s apartment complex And won’t leave until he… https://t.co/1aMG4khoVT
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598686751.0
Protesters dancing in the street in front of the Portland mayor’s apartment. #blacklivesmatter #protest #pdx… https://t.co/6CDJyJfu6t
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof))1598668318.0
Three Black Lives Matter protesters have locked arms and are refusing to move from the lobby of Mayor @tedwheeler's… https://t.co/mNGS53XNFZ
— Alex Milan Tracy (@Alex Milan Tracy)1598666645.0
One of the people who chained herself inside @tedwheeler’s condo lobby is Olivia Morgan. She was arrested just two… https://t.co/XYB3rQtf59
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1598671557.0

One resident of the apartment building tried to broker a meeting between Wheeler and the protesters. David Kahn, former president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, stopped to speak to the demonstrators inside the lobby.

Kahn, who said he is a friend of the mayor, told The Oregonian he offered to set up a meeting on Monday with Wheeler, but the group declined.

"I'm certain that if he was here tonight we probably could have arranged for something, but he's not," Kahn said. "But I know for a fact that is a standing policy for him."

Tim Becker, a spokesperson for Wheeler, did not confirm whether the mayor was at his home or not.

Protesters painted bloody red handprints on the windows of the lobby and put up signs that read: "Send Teddy to the Hague."

Agitators shined lights into the windows of the apartment building, and a metal band played live music outside the condos in an effort to not allow Wheeler to get sleep. The security at the condo reportedly called police, but authorities did not respond.

A resident of the condo building allegedly threw objects at the protesters from their window or balcony.

Antifa and BLM are flashing strobe lights into @tedwheeler’s condo building in NW Portland. They’re also hosting a… https://t.co/JlX96x3tRf
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1598677290.0
Here’s the band! #BlackLivesMatter #PortlandProtests #PDXprotests https://t.co/YfXQrmvCMp
— Jules Boykoff (@Jules Boykoff)1598675135.0
BREAKING VIDEO: Protesters outside the apartment building of Ted Wheeler are making sure he doesn’t sleep tonight.… https://t.co/K99d56PCRP
— Anoncat Ⓐ☂️🏴 ➐ (@Anoncat Ⓐ☂️🏴 ➐)1598672732.0
Security for @tedwheeler’s condo said a while ago they called police but no one has showed up so far. That part of… https://t.co/K2wBRbHyk6
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1598672282.0

Protesters also gathered outside of Wheeler's apartment in June. The protest was declared an unlawful assembly.

Wheeler was outside cleaning up trash in his neighborhood the next day. "I live here, and these are my neighbors," Wheeler said in June. "And I'm sure they're not very happy this morning. They're probably not very excited to be my neighbors at the moment."

Wheeler attempted to pander to far-left protesters in July, but that ended with miserably for the Democratic mayor. Agitators threw objects at him, cursed at him, called him a "f***ing fascist," and chanted: "Tear Gas Teddy!" The protest turned violent and tear gas was deployed towards the crowd, including Wheeler.

For the 93rd straight night, there were protests in Portland. On Friday night, shots were allegedly fired into the air, and nobody was hurt.

The Portland Police union building was set on fire.

"Individuals wheeled multiple dumpsters into the road and lit at least one on fire. The fire was in the road and not threatening any structures. In the interest of deescalating the situation, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers remained out of sight," the Portland Police Bureau said. "However, arsonists put some debris, including a large mattress, against the front door of the building, appeared to spray accelerant on it, and lit it on fire. The flames appeared to engulf the front door area of the building and nearly reach the roofline."

"Due to the extreme life safety concerns, the Incident Commander declared the incident a riot," they added.

Here is a shell casing on the street https://t.co/ojhNOLV3XV
— Sergio Olmos (@Sergio Olmos)1598692149.0
After occupying area outside @tedwheeler’s condo, #antifa have returned to rioting. They have shut down the street… https://t.co/KZTvAqWeug
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1598687277.0
Mattress set on fire in front of the Police Union building, it is currently uninhabited. #blacklivesmatter … https://t.co/TTOowl5Sr2
— Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof) (@Garrison Davis (Teargas Proof))1598687167.0
To those gathered outside of the Portland Police Association Office on North Lombard Street:This gathering has bee… https://t.co/FzxUVwA00w
— Portland Police (@Portland Police)1598686769.0