August 10, 2020 3:20 a.m.

State Senator Dallas Heard and State Representative David Brock Smith have condemned what they call “the orchestrated violence, arson and attempted murder of Police Officers in Portland” and asked their legislative colleagues in Portland to join them.

Heard said he has traveled to Portland and “…witnessed firsthand many people exercising their right to protest peacefully”. Heard said while he may not have agreed with everything the speakers were saying, he fully respected and would defend their right to do what they were doing. Heard said he “…whole heartedly condemn the violence and destruction that some people were there to cause, and which we have seen become more hateful and intense over the last month”.

Heard said “The silence of Kate Brown, Democratic Legislative Leadership and Mayor Wheeler on these acts over the last several weeks is deafening and should concern everyone”.

Brock Smith said having worked closely with law enforcement as a former city council president, county commissioner and current legislator, “…the willful, deliberate and planned attacks on our public safety personnel must be condemned by the Governor and Legislators that represent them”.

The release concluded by the lawmakers saying, “With escalating attacks spreading across Portland, we call on our colleagues to join us in advocating to end the violence that continues to threaten the health, lives, and safety of our Oregon Peace Officers and their families”.