"I'm not going to lie — it stings;it's hard to breathe,"Wheeler said."And I can tell you with 100 per cent honesty,I saw nothing which provoked this response."
He called it an"egregious overreaction"on the part of the federal officers and not a de-escalation strategy.
"It's got to stop now,"he declared.
But the Democratic mayor,57,has also long been the target of Portland protesters infuriated by the city police's own use of tear gas,which was persistent until a federal judge ordered the city to use it only when there was a safety issue. As Wheeler went through the crowds on Wednesday night,some threw objects in his direction,and others called for his resignation,chanting,"Tear Gas Teddy".
After a large wave of tear gas sent Wheeler away from the scene,some protesters mocked him,asking how it felt. Wheeler said that joining the protesters at the front of the line was just one way he was going to try to rid the city of the federal tactical teams.
"A lot of these people hate my guts,"Wheeler said,looking around at the crowd.
But he said they were unified in wanting federal officers gone.