Portland Mayor Caves to Anti-Eviction Anarchists, Says More Occupations May Follow

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler admitted Monday that the apology he issued to the squatters of a foreclosed house could lead to similar occupations. The mayor apologized to the anti-eviction anarchists who drove police from a now three-block “autonomous zone.”

“I hope it is not an ongoing phenomenon,” Mayor Wheeler said in an article published by The Oregonian. “Our objective is to protect lives and end the occupation. And nobody should take this as an invitation to do it anywhere else. The end result could turn out very differently.”

The local newspaper reported the mayor conceded the “aura of success” could lead to similar occupations. He then said he hopes otherwise.

Mayor Wheeler reached a settlement with the occupiers of what has become known as “The Red House on Mississippi” to end the barricade put in place early last week. The mayor and police chief addressed a letter to the former owners of the house for referring to the encampment as an “autonomous zone,” The Oregonian reported over the weekend. The mayor pledged last week that the police were authorized to use “all lawful means” to end the occupation of the foreclosed house and surrounding streets.