Portland, Oregon Mayor Ted Wheeler’s hands-off policy, neutering the city’s police force, has come under renewed criticism after a vicious attack by Antifa on a conservative journalist.
The Oregonian reports:
Andy Ngo, a right-leaning provocateur with online news and opinion outlet Quillette, which identifies Ngo as an editor and photojournalist, went to the left-wing demonstration around noon on Saturday. Around 1:30 p.m., Ngo was attacked by a group of masked individuals who kicked, punched and threw milkshakes at him. He quickly left the scene and was admitted to a local hospital, he said on Twitter.
In the ER. pic.twitter.com/spe5N4nzVl
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) June 29, 2019
Pictures he posted after the attack show cuts and bruises to his face and neck as well as what appears to be the remnants of milkshake coating his hair and clothing. An Oregonian/OregonLive reporter caught the attack on video, though the video doesn’t show what precipitated the attack.
Police were lined up along the perimeter of the park before the attack, but no one intervened to break up the fight. Late Saturday, police reported that three people had been arrested, including one for assault, but it was unclear if that person had anything to do with the attack on Ngo. [emphasis added]
Within hours, the footage of Ngo’s beating had spread far and wide on the internet, racking up more than a million views on Twitter alone. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas weighed in, calling for a federal investigation into the actions of both the mayor and the police.
To federal law enforcement: investigate & bring legal action against a Mayor who has, for political reasons, ordered his police officers to let citizens be attacked by domestic terrorists. https://t.co/5xyCDARICl https://t.co/c0Tf3SsKEf
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 30, 2019
Mayor Wheeler, who is also the police commissioner, has yet to respond to claims he’s ceded control of the city’s streets to Antifa.
The Antifa factions participating in the rowdy demonstration reportedly belong to Rose City Antifa or the Democratic Socialists of America of Portland.
It’s unclear if members in either of those organizations assaulted Ngo.
Protesters also pummeled police officers with milkshakes and eggs.
Eventually, Portland PD attempted to quell the mayhem. They faced more hostility from the far-left.
Police on bikes broke up opposing protesters at Broadway and Morrison. pic.twitter.com/jIvsgntH4d
— Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) June 29, 2019
(H/T Breitbart)