Portland City Council Remains United Against Federal Overreach

Portland City Council issued the following statement in response to the9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the potential deployment of National Guard troops in Portland.

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.

As Judge Graber wrote in her dissent, today's ruling "erodes core constitutional principles, including sovereign States' control over their States' militias and the people's First Amendment rights to assemble and to object to the government's policies and actions."

As your Portland City Council, last week we voted unanimously as a body to strengthen our sanctuary laws and protections. We are united in opposing federal overreach and remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting Portlanders by every means available. From policy to advocacy, we will continue to stand up for democracy, Portlanders' rights, and our city's values. We urge everyone to continue raising their voices peacefully and in the spirit of Portland.

-Portland City Council