Portland's police chief calls for anti-mask law, different approach for violent protesters

[madville]

Police Chief Danielle Outlaw said Wednesday the city, police and community need "a better way'' to address protest groups bent on brawling on Portland streets and called for laws that would bar masks worn by demonstrators, allow police to fully videotape protests and give authorities greater control of protests by groups with a history of violence.

"We have to do something differently,'' Outlaw said, addressing reporters directly for the first time since violence in Saturday’s converging protests downtown drew national attention.

"There were entities that planned a brawl in the city of Portland and no one seems to be upset about that. … Entities came here for a fight. … I don’t even know what they were protesting against.’’

Outlaw, speaking in the 14th floor Police Bureau conference room in a hastily called press conference, denied that the mayor has “handcuffed’’ the police response to demonstrations in any way, as the police union president alleged this week. Mayor Ted Wheeler serves as the city’s police commissioner.

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2019/07/portlands-police-chief-calls-for-anti-mask-laws-different-approach-for-violent-protesters.html

[moondust]

2. France did it.

French ban on face covering

When France did it in 2010 lots of people complained that it was about Islamophobia and a violation of personal freedom. I always thought it was mainly about security in the age of terrorism. Opinions vary as noted on the Wiki page.

[AJT]

3. I thought it was more about anarchists.

[moondust]

5. That too.

It may not have been about them originally but it probably helps to see their faces when they show up and get violent at protests like the Yellow Vests. Apparently breathing masks are still acceptable.

[dustyscamp]

4. If they are going to ban masks they should also ban plate carriers and knee pads