Portland rejects police budget cuts; protestors respond with vandalism

(NOVEMBER 7, 2020) Many people have been protesting in Portland since May. They want to end racial injustice and police brutality. Some people want to reduce the funding for police or get rid of the police department altogether.

City commissioners are the leaders of the city of Portland. Last June, the city commissioners agreed to cut almost $16 million from the budget of the Portland Police Bureau. Protestors, however, want a bigger change; they want $50 million in budget cuts.

Last week, the city commissioners discussed another change to the budget. The idea was to cut $18 million from the Portland Police Bureau and then use that money to help pay for the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the city commissioners voted 3-2 against it. The idea failed.

Ted Wheeler is the mayor of Portland. He said that he understands that many people in Portland do not trust the police. However, he voted "no" because the budget cut would require layoffs. That means some employees of the Portland Police Bureau would lose their jobs.

Dan Ryan is a new city commissioner. He also voted against the budget cut. In response, about 60 protestors marched to his Ryan's home. According to the Associated Press, the protestors threw flares and paint-filled balloons at Ryan's house. Some protestors smashed a window and broke planters. Police declared the action a riot, and they arrested two people. Ryan said the protesters coming to his home used “the exact tactics they claim to be railing against — bullying and intimidation.”

Elsewhere in Portland, protestors attacked the police union headquarters and also set fire to the doors of City Hall.