Oregon Mayors Unite to Block Federal National Guard Deployment Amid Protest Concerns

More than a dozen Oregon mayors, led by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, have jointly condemned President Donald Trump's plans to deploy the Oregon National Guard to address protests and civil unrest in Portland, which he has labeled a "war zone." The mayors pledged to block local cooperation with federal militarization efforts, refuse local resources for such operations, and pursue legal measures to protect civil rights, especially for immigrant communities. They demand federal agents wear visible identification, use body cameras, and limit the use of chemical munitions and crowd-control tactics. In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell and the state attorney general also urged President Trump not to send federal troops, emphasizing local control and safety without militarization, with Harrell planning an executive order to safeguard city authority. Portland City Councilor and Army veteran Mitch Green called on military members to reject deployment orders that violate constitutional rights, stressing their duty to disobey unlawful commands and encouraging them to protest in uniform. These coordinated local responses underscore widespread opposition to the federal government's aggressive law enforcement militarization in the Pacific Northwest.