Portland, Oregon Mayor Ted Wheeler took to Twitter Tuesday evening to announce he has authorized police to use "all lawful means" in ending an Antifa “autonomous zone” that has broken out in the city.
Protestors have barricaded off a section of streets in North Portland to protest the eviction of a family in the area.
I am authorizing the Portland Police to use all lawful means to end the illegal occupation on North Mississippi Avenue and to hold those violating our community’s laws accountable. There will be no autonomous zone in Portland.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) December 9, 2020
It’s time for the encampment and occupation to end. There are many ways to protest and work toward needed reform. Illegally occupying private property, openly carrying weapons, threatening and intimidating people are not among them.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) December 9, 2020
"I am authorizing the Portland Police to use all lawful means to end the illegal occupation on North Mississippi Avenue and to hold those violating our community’s laws accountable. There will be no autonomous zone in Portland," Wheeler tweeted.
Earlier on Tuesday, clashes between law enforcement and protesters occurred. Rioters threw rocks, bottles and other objects at officers and police vehicles.
The Democratic mayor’s tweet does not seem to have had much impact, Oregonlive.com reports the streets remain barricaded and the illegal occupation of the home continues as of Wednesday morning.