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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Gang activity fuels Portland violence
By SARA CLINE PORTLAND, Ore©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
34 Comments
Blacklabel
Its just a way to downplay the BLM/Antifa violence by shifting the focus to actual gang violence, with "people of color" being disproportionately impacted, of course and as always.
compared to actual gangs, BLM/Antifa are just peaceful protesters, in comparison.
Which is why the focus has shifted to gangs in the first place.
oh, who are the shooters by group or race, disproportionately? Doesnt seem to be written there.
Commodore Perry
I thought Portland was a peaceful city? BLM had many peaceful protests there, right?
Express sister
Whoops! Turns out I was thinking of somewhere else. It's good to remember to follow one's own advice. Thanks, BL.
Blacklabel
Then: Portland City Council defunds police bureau by $15 million
Portland City Council has passed a budget that takes $15 million away from the police bureau, after failing to get a unanimous vote last Thursday.
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/protests/defunding-portland-police-city-council-budget-15-million-cuts/283-239c5e3a-cfed-4dce-8775-d2c52a9df9aa
Now: Turner: Gun violence surge ‘directly related to defunding police’
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/turner-gun-violence-surge-directly-related-to-defunding-police/
Blacklabel
"Despite police pleas for more personnel, city leaders slashed $27 million from the police budget — $11 million due to the pandemic-caused budget crisis and $15 million amid calls to defund the police —"
Express sister
It's actually a very good idea. Sadly, Portland has not defunded its police. So I don't know what you're referring to, here. It would do you good, in future, to do even a cursory Google on the subjects you want to discuss.
bass4funk
But not in Chicago, Baltimore, St.Louis, Oakland and Detroit.
Ok and as usual what does that have to do with the crimes that are mostly perpetrated by people of color? That’s not being racist, that’s just being factual.
Commodore Perry
P. SmithToday 07:43 am JST
Totally wrong. Police can absolutely pull people over if the police feel a crime is in progress. If a car is speeding, driving erratically, blowing through red lights, this gives police the right under the Fourth Amendment to pull the car over.
bass4funk
…Or we could push for our elected Democrat leaders to enforce the gun laws already on the books. We could fund the police and give them sweeping powers to combat crime aggressively? Giuliani did it and he turned NYC which was a hell, rat infested violent city and made it one of the safest and Bloomberg as well, but DeBlasio and Cuomo have once again but back to violence and put the country back to where it was pre-1993
Happy Day
Portland, like many other Democrat-controlled cities, is a cesspool.
Antifa and BLM have ruined them.
Defunding the police was a bad idea, after all.
Blacklabel
the mayor let Antifa get totally out of control. All the defund the police and the daily struggles with the "peaceful protesters" took up all the police resources, leading to fewer police available.
Seems the people of Portland didnt really consider this as violence they cared about and didnt pressure the mayor to stop it.
But it severely impacted the police department ability to respond to non Antifa crime as an unintended consequence. this emboldened actual, real gangs, who also increased activities. The mayor finally realized now that people expect him to do something about all this violent gang crime. his voters were for the "peaceful protests" but they arent going to put up with daily murders and other violent assaults.
Blacklabel
Its very hard when people try to identify the Proud Boys as the "gang" the article is talking about. or try to claim that the anarchy from the "right" is the problem in Antifa town, Portland.
If we could discuss actual gangs and reasonable gun control, sure would be great. And would actually solve the problem.
I just dont see that Portland wants to take any actions necessary to change anything. To prevent violence, you cant excuse it when you see it, nor deflect the blame for it to someone who didnt do it, for politics or identity reasons.
Who do these gangs really consist of? what is their motivation? thats a good start.
FizzBit
That is some of the best Double Speak I've seen in a while. Tops even Biden and Harris. She should run for President.
“The police have a role but their role is simply to solve crime — their role is not to prevent crime" - True, but they're also there to protect the public and streets, and to do that you have to be proactive and assertive. Many police these days are too aggressive, which causes the knee-jerk reaction to defund.
"their role is not to intervene in other community activities,” - Just what does she mean by "community activities,”? A bake sale? A crack sale?
bass4funk
Nope, very correct. Not one single one of these idiot politicians knows anything about policing and yet, the same people that are screaming the most about vilifying the police as a threat and danger are the same people that demand the police protect them? Ironic….
I’m very familiar and again, the police need to be affective in their work at stopping crime and if you cut the legs from underneath them, they can’t do it. If the police officer has made a mistake, you can always take it up later and file a report.
Yes, but if that person has priors or is associated with a suspect that was involved in a crime, it is also within that officers right to use discretion and judgment to ascertain the situation appropriately depending on the situation. I know, my brother is a cop.
Well, this is the reason why NYC is a mess now and Chicago will always be a mess.
No, the rest of my post is advocating for a crackdown on crime. If you allow the police to do their job like in my town or in places like around Orange County, California or even Beverly Hills, you’re going to see less crime, a lot less.
bass4funk
True, but according to the left and BLM the cops can’t really do that. All these idiot pen pushing politicians that have never worked or walked the streets policing should just mind their own business and let the police do their jobs. If they are alerted or suspect a person is doing something illegal, it should always be within that cops discretion to pull someone over if needed.
That’s visually, but if it’s a wanted fugitive or maybe someone that has committed a crime, or maybe one of the 4 occupants of the vehicle is wanted for a crime. We just don’t know, there is a reason why cities like Portland, Chicago and NYC are just spinning out of control. The cops have their hands behind their back and the criminals are reaping the benefits of what the Democrats are doing, so if you’re a thug, these are just the golden times for you.
If the majority of crimes overwhelmingly are committed by a certain segment of a racial group of course they should be profiled more, that’s not being racist, that’s just going by all the police records and stats. I get it, it’s an uncomfortable thing, but we have to view the reality not in the way we would like to see things, but as it actually is.
Blacklabel
Nobody is defunding the police!
oh wait....
Laguna
My sister lived in Portland, and when I visited, expecting a cool vibe, I was shocked at the right-wing influence. It's anarchy, not from the left, but from the right.