Northwest Under Siege: ‘This is About Violence, Rioting’

Seattle and Portland are the scenes of continued protests, some violent. Here’s how it appeared in Seattle back on June 1. (Screen snip, YouTube, KING5 News)

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- Following another weekend of violent protests in the Pacific Northwest’s two major metropolitan areas dominated by far-left politics—Seattle and Portland—forces of anarchy and those demanding the defunding or dismantling of local police departments appear to be on a collision course with the law.

Federal officers moved in on Portland protesters, causing Mayor Ted Wheeler to blame them for escalating the violence. But according to the Portland Oregonian, Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner countered, “The elected officials have condoned the destruction and chaos. They have placed their political agenda ahead safety and welfare of the community. This must stop.”

Oregon’s largest city has endured more than 50 nights of protest, including vandalism and more serious trouble. It was ignited by the death of George Floyd, a Black man held to the ground by Minneapolis police in late May, a knee on his neck until he could no longer breathe. Four officers involved in that incident have been fired and charged with felonies.
But Turner said the protests are no longer about that tragedy.

“This is no longer about George Floyd, racial equity, social justice reform or the evolution of policing,” Turner said. “This is about violence, rioting and destruction. Our city is under siege by rioters.”

Federal officers moved in, taking several demonstrators into custody. Wheeler, appearing over the weekend on CNN, declared, “People are being literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans, rental cars apparently. They’re being denied probable cause and due process. They don’t even know who’s pulling them into the vans.”

He called it an abuse of tactics by federal authorities.

“They are making the situation much more dangerous. I’m worried that one of our residents, or one of our local and state law enforcement officers, is going to get killed because of the tactics that they’re currently engaged in,” Wheeler reportedly said.

Reacting to Wheeler’s remarks Monday morning on “Fox & Friends,” Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf declared Wheeler’s remarks to be “completely irresponsible.”

“The facts don’t lie and the facts are that these violent anarchists and extremists were violent well before DHS surged federal assets into Portland,” Wolf said.

Caught in the middle of this chaos are local residents who neither want to be endangered, or have their property vandalized or destroyed. Certainly in the proverbial backs of some minds are the state constitutional right to bear arms provisions in both Oregon and Washington, found at the Second Amendment Foundation website.

Oregon Constitution Article I, Section 27

‘The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defence of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power[.]’

Washington Constitution Article I, Section 24

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

Both states have strong self-defense/use-of-force statutes. On both sides of the Columbia River, the use of force is allowed when some is committing in imminent danger of physical harm. Oregon’s statute may be read here. Washington’s statute may be read here.

In Seattle, KING 5 News reported, “A ‘well organized’ group marched through downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill…causing significant damage to businesses and the Seattle Police Department’s West and East Precincts.” Capitol Hill was the scene of the infamous “CHOP zone” where protesters seized six blocks of real-estate for 16 days, until Seattle police move them out following two homicides and four shootings.

As described by KING, “A group of peaceful protesters gathered in Westlake Park for several hours Sunday and then a separate group arrived carrying baseball bats and was set out for ‘destruction and damage,’ police said.” A dozen police officers were injured and one was hospitalized, according to published reports. A baseball bat can be a deadly weapon.

A Seattle Police tweet, according to KING, stated, “These are criminal acts, not peaceful protests.”

In a separate KING report, it was revealed that, “A group gathered Sunday to try and get the attention of Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez and convince her to publicly commit to the idea of defunding SPD by 50%.” The story noted seven of nine city council members “have publicly supported defunding SPD by 50%.”

A news crew from rival KOMO was harassed by protesters as they tried to cover the weekend demonstration, and it was all caught on video.

And in the midst of this, KUOW radio is reporting about an effort by the Democrat-controlled King County Council to change the office of sheriff to an appointed rather than elected position. They voted to approve to proposed charter amendments, one making the sheriff an appointed office and the other preserving the election of a sheriff but allowing the council to “legislate the sheriff’s duties.”

This was tried once before, but voters changed it back decades ago. Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht asserts the council is “overstepping its authority,” according to KUOW. While conservatives on social media are opposed to the change idea, gun owners haven’t forgotten that in 2018, she co-authored a statement in the voter’s pamphlet supporting gun control Initiative 1639, which raised the age for purchasing a modern sporting rifle to 21, and requires a 10-day waiting period, so-called “universal background check” for the purchase of such a firearm and proof of safety training within the previous five years.

In a telling comment, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay reportedly observed during a meeting “that protesters are calling on their governments to reimagine policing.”

“Right now, we have a movement around the country that’s asking us to make big, bold transformational changes to our sheriff’s department,” he said.

So, protesters want policing to change, but what about everyone else? Is the public growing weary of these violent demonstrations, which seem to allegedly always begin as “peaceful” but quickly turn destructive?

Their sentiment may be best summed up in remarks on Facebook by Portland-based radio commentator Lars Larson.

“Does anyone doubt that Portland’s leaders have lost control of the riots,” he asks. “Rioters tell police they hope officers and their families die.”

As reported earlier, there is something of a moratorium on new concealed pistol license applications in Washington’s King County and the City of Seattle. Yet there has been a lot of new gun-buying around the Northwest since the COVID-19 pandemic panic set in four months ago.

Panic has been replaced by frustration that authorities in both Seattle and Portland are allowing this violence to continue. Peaceful protest is protected by the Constitution, but as those demanding some semblance of law and order, and public safety, have repeatedly observed, the First Amendment does not protect rioting, looting, vandalism or property destruction.

RELATED:

Acting Secretary Wolf Condemns The Rampant Long-Lasting Violence In Portland ~ VIDEO

 


About Dave WorkmanDave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

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Luv2shoot

These protestors want a socialist, communist state so why are they surprised when the government turns the ‘secret stasi police’ on them. They’re getting just what they asked for. Next up for them is gulags.

KDad

It’s NOT the military that’s being sent into the DemocRAT controlled shit-holes to help keep the peace ! It’s federal police and law enforcement agencies ! So that NO MILITARY dog don’t hunt !If the incompetent DemocRAT leaders hadn’t kissed ANTIFA’s and BLM’s asses and allowed them to riot, this wouldn’t be necessary !

Country Boy

Law enforcement should surround the rioters, and crack some skulls, hogtie them and move on to the next rioter’s capture. Once all have been hog tied, gathr them all up and next stop should be the Federal pen.awaiting trial, then sentenced for sedition against the US. Lengthy prison terms should be handed out. If rioter/ perp commited /involved in a murder, the death penalty should be applied. And let the NG use real bullets for any of the rioter shooters.

Deplorable Bill

This mess has not been about Floyd for a month and 3 weeks. What we are seeing is socialist/communist fueled, funded and supported riots in an attempt to cause as much damage and fear as possible to promote socialism and communism. Don’t believe me??? Follow the money. It leads right to the demoncrapic national convention, Soros and a couple of convicted terrorist. Sadly, the governor, the mayor and most of the politicians are all in on it. If that’s not treason, someone tell me what is. Does anyone notice that most of these riots etc. happen in states that are… Read more »

Superman

Both Washington and Oregon are right to carry states.

Westside

I don’t believe this was ever about George Floyd. This was a planned attack on America waiting for a catalyst. George Floyd’s situation was that.

Gene Ralno

Another left-coast, pencil-necked weasel that only an entitlement-city like Portland would elect. I wonder if democrat Wheeler ever voiced pride in his family and the wealth that hauled him into the mayor’s realm. A quick search reveals his roots are firmly planted in the Oregon forest products industry. His father Sam was executive vice president at Willamette Industries, a Fortune 500 lumber company that was formed in 1967 with a merger of several smaller companies, including one established by the Wheeler family in 1912 in Wheeler, Oregon. Hmmm…most of his constituents take a dim view of chopping down big old trees for… Read more »

Tionico

“This is no longer about George Floyd, racial equity, social justice reform or the evolution of policing,” Turner said. “This is about violence, rioting and destruction. Our city is under siege by rioters.” Wake up folks, This never WAS about George Floyd. This has been ongoing in the Pacific Northwest for at least three years. I well remember the prequel to this, and the one to that, and so on back years. wo years ago I felt perfectly safe to walk about, alone anywhere in the downtown Portland area, late at night, not the slightest trace of fear. Today you… Read more »

loveaduck

It started with the WTO protests. Ass-hats saw they could get away with it and have been destructive and divisive ever since.

pureamericana

If the Oregon& Washington State Constitution legalizes firearms for ”protection of themselves & the state” perhaps qualified citizens in the state should form a legal militia and put down Antifa/BLM and the usual street leftist useless filth. Be brutal ,but make it end fast. IF they really want it to stop.

Tionico

that already exists, to some extent, but we are waiting for the government we have hired toDO THEIR JOB. When it breaks out of downtown big Dem cities, it will NOT spread out into the surrounding areas. THAT will be stopped. Washington have about twelve percent of adult residents with their Mother May I Cards, and a goodly number of those folks carry eveywhere. The gummits of Seattle and Portland are sold out traitors, and THINK they are incontorl. Sorry Wheeler and Durkan, you are NOT in charge of FEDERAL officers, who are sent to protect Federal properties and enforce… Read more »

Matt in Oklahoma

Let it burn. Y’all wanted them and voted them in

Nurph

Agreed. Pull ALL federal employees/family members out, relocate them, & let the leftists figure it out. Then, as Trump did with Minneapolis, deny federal funding for rebuilding.

PMinFl

^^^THIS^^^^

Superman

Stick to predicting lottery numbers; you will have better luck.

PMinFl

It’s time for the extreme leftists to catch lead.

Don

Why are the mayors of Seattle, Portland, and Chicago not under house arrest for inciting riots and deaths? Portland’s mayor in particular has incited others to riot. He needs to be contained.

Camotim

Time to issue an insurrection proclamation and send int he US Armed Forces. This is the same as Ft Sumnter.

Sisu

If existing limits on the First Amendment (e.g., no shouting “FIRE !” in a theater) are not applicable then laws shielding “elected officials” from personal liability for “lying/bearing false witness” when in office and “inciting division and violence” need to be rethought. … There are many Democrats who need to be charged with “inciting”, as well as “aiding and abetting” “riot” and other crimes of directed and indiscriminate violence … if not “conspiracy”, “sedition” and “treason”. …

StLPro2A

Workman, you should stop proliferating the George Floyd was killed by cop’s knee on his neck fraud. Try reading the 20 page autopsy and publishing it on this sight to dispel the fraud. The Burn/Loot/Mayhem terrorists use that type of mis-information to confuse America into believing their terrorism is just. You assist them.

Gene Ralno

I had not read the autopsy and assume many others also had not. If a jury acquits Chauvin, we’ll be subjected to another round of BLM & antifa looting, burning, injury and death. Here are some salient points: III. No life-threatening injuries identified A. No facial, oral mucosal, or conjunctival petechiae B. No injuries of anterior muscles of neck or laryngeal structures C. No scalp soft tissue, skull, or brain injuries D. No chest wall soft tissue injuries, rib fractures (other than a single rib fracture from CPR), vertebral column injuries, or visceral injuries E. Incision and subcutaneous dissection of… Read more »

Don

Chauvin killed Floyd. It is really that simple.

Rowboat

Ok , Don – lets perform an experiment ; I kneel on your back and neck for 8 minutes and 48 seconds ( who was timing this ) and see if you croak !

gregs

it is only the talking heads on the left and their mobs that want to defund/dismantle/reimagine the police. imagine your neighborhood looking like chiraq, baltimore, nyc. do you want that? the average citizen, including a majority of blacks continue to want police in their neighborhoods.

PMinFl

I wonder if all of this crap is to provoke uninformed voters to believe that this is what will happen if Trump is re-elected? Scared stupid voters will vote for NO Joe to avoid civil unrest. They don’t see actions such as we’ve seen recently as the new normal…but it is. While I’m not a big fan of Trump I MUST vote for him and against nojoe..

Matt in Oklahoma

LOL y’all think it’s the feds still to this day that are your issue when it’s clearly the state/local giving you fits. Get off the X

loveaduck

And, apparently, we can’t shoot the looting shits anymore.

Don

Martial law can be invoked in small areas. Like just in Portland or Seattle. It doesn’t have to be national. The incitement to riot given by the mayor of Portland deserves a police response. He should be arrested.

3l120

If only that were true!

Nurph

“People are being literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans, rental cars apparently. They’re being denied probable cause and due process. They don’t even know who’s pulling them into the vans.”

Kinda like red flag laws, right? Doesn’t feel so good does it?

Darkman

Sorry Charlie…As it turns out this is another attempt at Fake News. Being push by BLM and Liberal politicians. All propagated by the Fake News (Media/Sarc).

pureamericana

Those being singled out should be thankful it is LE and they are read their rights. If this Communist insurrection continues, it will not be LE taking them down nor will they be read any rights. Think about the alternative.

3l120

And you really believe the news on that??? Same news that pushes the Portland Commissioner who said that cops were starting the fires to make the rioters look bad! I’m sure you do.