Portland's Mayor Ted Wheeler listens to a member of the public during a demonstration against the presence of federal law enforcement officers and racial inequality in Portland, Oregon, U.S., July 22, 2020. REUTERS/Caitlin OchsPORTLAND, Oregon: The US Justice Department announced on Thursday it would investigate the use of force against protesters in Portland, Oregon, following another night of unrest in which the city's mayor was tear-gassed.
But Wheeler, who is also the city's police commissioner, was jeered by demonstrators, who called on him to resign and chanted"Shame on you." Some said he should have done more to protect Portland's citizens. "They’re not wanted here. They’re not properly trained to be here. And we’re asking them right this minute – we’re demanding that they leave," he said."We’re demanding that the federal government stop occupying our city."
In addition to being tear-gassed, Wheeler faced demonstrators screaming expletives at him and some threw water bottles at him. One demonstrator asked Wheeler if he was willing to abolish the police, to which he replied 'No', followed by loud boos from many.