Portland Mayor Charlie Hales Tells City Workers He Feared a "Shutdown and Occupation" of Police Union Contract Vote

Hales justified the City Council lockdown as a response to "a planned shutdown and occupation of the City Council"; protestors reject that suggestion.

More than a week after he locked down a City Council session to approve the police union contract, Mayor Charlie Hales is belatedly trying to win the hearts and minds of the city's own employees.

In an email sent out on Thursday, Oct. 20, Hales invited city workers to a forum during "company time" to hear his explanation of the lockdown and the response to protestors, which included police pushing protestors out of from City Hall and later, the use of pepper spray against some.

"I have heard from many of you about the trauma experienced at City Hall last Wednesday following a planned shutdown and occupation of the City Council meeting by certain protestors, and the subsequent response of the Portland Police Bureau to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone in City Hall," writes Hales.

"Unfortunately, many of you did not feel safe last Wednesday, and have concerns about how the events that day transpired."

Protestors immediately took issue with Hales' claim that his actions came in response to "a planned shutdown and occupation of the City Council."

"I tried to testify at Portland City Hall and instead witnessed the worst violence—at the hands of police by order of elected city officials—in my life," writes Heather Franklin in an email, providing photographic evidence she was attending with a child.

(Courtesy of Heather Franklin) (Courtesy of Heather Franklin)

"I did not occupy. I did not disrupt. I waited with my toddler and my ticket you provided TO TESTIFY….No amount of forums (sic) is going to erase what happened at that city council meeting​​."

Don't Shoot Portland spokesman Gregory McKelvey also took issue with Hales' explanation.

"A planned disruption and occupation?" he posted on Facebook. "Are you kidding me? We came to testify. Federal courts already ruled you can't exclude for past occurrences. You keep making legal cases so much better! Who was planning to disrupt and occupy because I know of no such plans other than yours!"

Update, 1:35 pm: Hales spokesman Brian Worley provided an email showing the mayor's office received at least one email threatening a shutdown of the City Council meeting before the vote.

He also noted that the City Council meeting moved behind closed doors after protests.

"The City Council meeting was recessed due to consistent disruptive behavior, and moved to an another room where public testimony was still being taken and the public could view from Council Chambers," emails Worley.

"The police contract was a second reading, and per City Code, public testimony shall be limited to the first reading of any type of ordinance, which for the contract occurred on September 28th where substantial public testimony was taken."

Hales' email is below:

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