My Newsweek Editorial: Portland’s ICE facility is a disaster waiting to happen

Dear Friends,

I'm reaching out to share an editorial I recently penned for Newsweek. Portland has been in the national spotlight for weeks; making it all the more important we talk about the truth about what is happening in our city with a national audience.

Read Newsweek Editorial

As you may already be aware, I met with Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem and White House adviser Corey Lewandowski last week. My editorial covers what I observed, and why I remain so deeply troubled by the words and actions coming from the administration.

I'd like to share a key quote:

"Words create outcomes. As a CEO, I knew I could never threaten or bully anyone into compliance; only patience, shared purpose and training could create the top-performing results I needed. By contrast, the words coming from the administration have been deeply irresponsible, including the threat of the Insurrection Act, a call to use 'Full Force' in our city and the suggestion that Portland could be used as a "training ground" for the U.S. military. What good outcomes could this rhetoric possibly create?" 

This weekend, tens of thousands of Portlanders came together to show unity, support of each other, and love for our community. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., we continue to see shutdown, chaos, and division. Thank you to each and every one of you who have raised your voices with peace and purpose. I've never been prouder to be a Portlander.

Onward,

Mayor Keith Wilson