Pro-Palestinian protesters forced Portland Mayor Keith Wilson to abandon a scheduled Q&A in Southeast Portland on Wednesday, video footage shows.
The weekly Bike Happy Hour event is billed as a community conversation for bike-loving people. Wilson was scheduled to speak at this week’s event and answer questions. But in an echo of the days of former Mayor Ted Wheeler, the event was interrupted by protests.
Before Wilson sat down next to BikePortland founder Jonathan Maus, who was hosting and moderating, large Palestinian flags appeared, along with a sign with the words “No sister city with genocide,” a reference to Portland’s sister city Ashkelon, in Israel. More protesters appeared carrying signs and a bullhorn.
“Good afternoon, everybody,” Wilson said after sitting down.
“Mayor Wilson,” a voice declared into a loudspeaker as the seated audience booed. “There are more important things happening right now — there are more important things happening right now than bike politics.”
The protester asked Wilson whether the city would take action against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on South Macadam Avenue and said Portland should end its sister city relationship with Ashkelon.
“I want to hear from you,” the protester said. “What are you going to do about ICE? Are you going to kick ICE out of Portland?”
Wilson eventually told the protesters he would take their questions during the Q&A portion of the event. The protesters did not relent and, five minutes after Wilson sat down, he said he wanted to focus on “safety,” got up and left.
“Way to go guys, good job,” Maus told the protesters, then tossed his clipboard on a chair.
Reflecting on the event, Maus said he was frustrated initially, but came to feel better about it as the evening progressed and people, including some protesters, talked and mingled.
“That’s just part of living in Portland and doing this work,” Maus said. “This stuff happens.”
Wilson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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