City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty Blasts Portland Police Actions at Friday Climate Rally

Echoing Urban League president, Hardesty says cops "unnecessarily escalated a situation."

September 20, 2019 | Climate Strike | Portland, OR. (Justin Katigbak)
By Nigel Jaquiss

City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty this afternoon joined in the criticism of Portland Police Bureau actions at a massive student climate march on Sept. 20.

“I want to take a moment to address the videos of Portland Police officers who, during a nonviolent protest last Friday, unnecessarily escalated a situation by pushing through a crowd of youth to single out two youth of color, ultimately leading to the arrest of several teens,” Hardesty said on Twitter. “What does it do to our community when we treat our youth this way? What does it teach our youth when behavior like this is allowed?”

Hardesty echoed the sentiments expressed earlier to WW by the Urban League's President and CEO Nkenge Harmon Johnson.

Related: Forceful Arrest of Student Climate Protesters Draws Condemnation From Portland Civic Leaders.

The police bureau issued a statement after the march on Friday night, saying the arrest of one of the student marchers followed police requests for them to get back on the sidewalk.

"After numerous requests, orders, and warnings that he would be arrested, the marcher still refused to get down," the statement says. "He was observed leaning out into the traffic lane causing vehicle drivers to abruptly apply their brakes. Officers were concerned about the extremely unsafe circumstance and saw arrest as the only option."

A spokesman for Mayor Ted Wheeler said the mayor would reserve comment until he has more information about the incident.

Hardesty said what she's seen in videos is disturbing.

"Every encounter with the public is an opportunity to show community trust, yet this is how these officers chose to interact with children peacefully engaging in direct action," Hardesty said. "I am so proud to have witnessed the power of our youth at last Friday's Global Climate Strike and it's unfortunate that the conduct of Portland Police officers during the protest—rather than the amazing show of power and resolve our youth showed that day—is what we are now talking about."

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