What they say vs. the truth we know

Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Stephen Miller, and the whole cabal have had quite a lot to say in recent days about my hometown of Portland. They say we are violent insurrectionists who pose a clear and present danger to the republic – and that the only way to control the situation is an influx of heavily-armed troops into our city.

Who has them so scared? Let me present some of the "insurrectionists" protesting ICE and various Trump administration policies:

Every single one of these photos was taken over the last week outside Portland's ICE facility.

You've got to hand it to the Trump administration for taking law and order seriously – it pardoned the thousands who attacked the Capitol on January 6, but it's sending the National Guard to deal with a few people dressed in frog, chicken, and capybara costumes.

Joke aside, let's be very clear: The Trump administration is doing everything in its power to spew dangerous propaganda about my hometown and to paint Portland as an out-of-control, "war-ravaged" city.

In reality, Portland is vibrant, peaceful, and resilient. We don't need federal troops patrolling our streets, and those troops deserve better than a delusional commander in chief who sees them as props in a PR mission. Trump is hoping to provoke a violent confrontation in order to justify expanding his power, and we are not going to give him that.

When those in charge get desperate, there's often a vast gap between what they say and the truth we all know. This is one of those times.

We cannot let Trump-fueled propaganda become the image most Americans associate with our city. I'll keep amplifying the true images and stories I see from our streets – and I'll hope you'll join me in those efforts.

More soon,

Ron

P.S. Please share the images of any peaceful Portland protests you see on social media! Every little bit can help correct misinformation and ensure that false narratives don't become ingrained in people's minds.