Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard was outraged at the senseless violence taking place in Rip City, as federal troops have taken over the Oregon landmark after receiving intelligence about planned attacks around July 4.
It's been more than two weeks since Independence Day, yet federal police remain in Portland at the orders of the Department of Homeland Security. Several residents, including Mayor Ted Wheeler, have been tear-gassed in downtown Portland early Thursday morning — something Lillard found befuddling.
“I don't understand why federal troops need to be on the ground and physically removing people from the streets,” said Lillard. “I feel like it's unnecessary, and it's definitely a scary situation.”
"I don't understand why federal troops need to be on the ground and physically removing people from the streets. I feel like it's unnecessary, and it's definitely a scary situation." – @Dame_Lillard pic.twitter.com/0Rw8NPoYvV
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 23, 2020
Damian Lillard noted he was unaware of the situation at first, but that it was brought to his attention on Twitter.
Most recently, the attack on Wheeler could be grounds for a deep discussion, considering the act was unprovoked.
Article Continues Below“It stings. It's hard to breathe. I can tell you with 100% honesty I saw nothing that provoked this response,” Wheeler said to the New York Times camera, per CNN. “I'm not afraid but I am pissed off.”
Here's the footage of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler becoming overwhelmed by a thick cloud of tear gas from federal officers.
STORY: https://t.co/60pvI5PEowpic.twitter.com/6eAsJX1pSx
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 23, 2020
Portland has been one of the nation's leaders in protests, which caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who condemned them, citing violence in other “Democrat-run” cities on Sunday, as his Republican administration called on the federal troops.
The Radical Left Democrats, who totally control Biden, will destroy our Country as we know it. Unimaginably bad things would happen to America. Look at Portland, where the pols are just fine with 50 days of anarchy. We sent in help. Look at New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. NO!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2020
Lillard might be away from Portland and concentrated in the restart of the 2019-20 season with playoff implications on the line, but he hasn't forgotten that he's a man of the people and his words pack some weight when it comes to fighting social injustice.