(PORTLAND, OR.) — "The Portland City Council meeting on February 25th, 2026, was marked by significant internal conflict and public outcry, particularly regarding the council's perceived inaction on federal immigration enforcement (ICE),” OpGov.ai reports.
Photo Credit: Clark/Vancouver Television
Guy Frankenstein is first to address the council, citing personal experiences of ICE tear-gassing children and police violence against protesters, labeling the council's response as 'hollow words' and 'opportunistic moralism.'
Photo Credit: Clark/Vancouver Television
“You are a government of a city that is in the crosshairs of this administration, and acquiescence isn’t going to buy you time. It’s only going to ensure your demise. In the past two months, I have personally witnessed ICE tear gas children and union members,” Frankenstein says.
Frankenstein continues, accusing the mayor and council of being 'scared or incompetent' and abandoning their responsibility to curb federal agents. He announces plans to run for city council to end illegal federal actions and push for accountability.
“This November, I, along with many others will be running for city council to replace you with the express purpose of ending illegal federal actions within our city and pushing for hard accountability for anyone that enabled ICE,” Frankenstein says.
The protest that interrupted last week’s council meeting was far from forgotten.
“Public comments were overwhelmingly critical, accusing the council of 'acquiescence' to ICE violence, suppressing peaceful protests, and failing to listen to constituent demands,” OpGov.ai reports.
Holly Brown testifies virtually criticizing Councilor Loretta Smith for her response to draft a city ordinance that would allow councilors to carry a gun.
Video Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
Councilor Smith has since reversed her stance on that action, commenting in a press release following last week’s protest that forced the councilors to recess and later reconvene virtually.
“To be clear, I denounce violence. I want to emphasize that violence is not the first and only solution to solving matters. And improving our security protocols is the best first action rather than an open carry ordinance,” Smith says.
Cole Donahue was one of the four protestors arrested during last week’s meeting. He advocates for real action to impede ICE's 'reign of terror' by revoking the South Waterfront facility's permit.
Photo Credit: Clark/Vancouver Television
“City council would not be disrupted as often if people felt like they were actually being listened to. The way you fix that is by taking real action to impede ICE’s reign of terror. And the way you do that is by shutting down ICE’s facility on the South Waterfront. Revoke the ICE permit immediately,” Donahue says.
Tyler Fellini presents spent munitions from an ICE tear-gassing incident and expressed concern over the mayor's comments that seemed to justify federal agent actions based on 'a handful of agitators.'
Video Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
Fellini criticizes the mayor's office for lack of responsiveness to requests for dialogue, highlighting the difficulty for both lobbyists and ordinary constituents to engage. He urges the council to press the mayor for direct communication.
Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney takes time to thank Council President Jamie Dunphy for arranging for the empty munitions to be brought into council chambers.
Photo Credit: Clark/Vancouver Television
“Even if one believes that chemical munitions are an appropriate response in our neighborhoods, which I don’t believe it is, that amount of chemical munitions is far beyond what I would have expected to see. I think it was impactful to have it here. I think it was important for us to see that,” Pirtle-Guiney says.
If you would like to comment on or add to this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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