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Dear Friends,
Today, Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and I issued a joint response to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Trump Administration can deploy National Guard troops to Oregon in a 2 to 1 decision.
My statement:
"Portland stands for democracy, dignity, and the right to peacefully protest. Our focus is simple and unchanging: we demand transparency, accountability, and community-led solutions, not troops on our streets. Our National Guard members are our neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones, and they deserve better than this unnecessary, unwanted deployment.
"We will not stand by while federal agencies sidestep local authority. Our legal team, working with the Oregon Department of Justice, will use every lawful tool to prevent this overreach. I call on federal decision-makers to stop these deployments, honor local governance, and partner with us on real public-safety solutions that respect civil rights and protect our community."
Govenor Kotek's statement:
"Oregon remains united in the fight against this unwanted, unneeded military intervention in Oregon. We will continue to show up for our neighbors, make our voices heard, and use our collective power to protect communities and our democracy.
"Over the weekend, people across Oregon gathered peacefully to send a message that the Trump Administration is being dishonest, and these actions to deploy troops are a gross, unamerican abuse of power.
"I have repeatedly called on the Trump Administration to tell the public exactly what mission he expects national guard members, who have been torn away from their families and jobs for weeks to carry out in Oregon. They have been silent.
"I support Attorney General Dan Rayfield's efforts to continue fighting this in court and will continue to do everything in my power to defend the health, safety and prosperity of every Oregonian. The fight is not over, and I am here for it."
Attorney General Rayfield's statement:
"Today's ruling, if allowed to stand, would give the president unilateral power to put Oregon soldiers on our streets with almost no justification. We are on a dangerous path in America.
"Oregon joins Judge Graber in urging the full Ninth Circuit to ‘act swiftly' en banc ‘to vacate the majority's order before the illegal deployment of troops under false pretenses can occur.' And, like her, we ‘ask those who are watching this case unfold to retain faith in our judicial system for just a little while longer.'
"Members of the Oregon National Guard are our neighbors, family members, and friends. Their safety is important. As a community, we need to come together and help make sure they are sent home as soon as possible. That means keeping Portland peaceful and safe while our fight in the court moves forward."
Portland City Council statement:
"We disagree with the panel's ruling, but this is just one hearing in a longer legal case against federal overreach. The Trump administration has repeatedly faced legal setbacks for reckless and unlawful actions, and in the long run, we expect to add to their losses in court.
"While a second temporary restraining order preventing any deployments remains in place, the federal government will soon seek to dissolve it, allowing the president to deploy National Guard troops in our city. But military intervention is not needed or wanted here. This past weekend, close to 50,000 people marched on our streets and made their voices heard peacefully. Allowing the National Guard to be deployed when the facts fail to match the Trump administration's narrative sets a dangerous precedent that threatens every community in our country."
A final thought...
What I wrote in my last email is just as true today. Last weekend, 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. I've never been prouder to be a Portlander as we navigate the latest federal developments.
Gratefully,
Mayor Keith Wilson