Portland’s police chief has given his officers permission to travel in pairs Friday, following the shootings in Dallas.
Chief Mike Marshman thinks some of his officers may feel targeted as they go to work after the shooting.
He found himself choking up when talking about it.
"It’s hard because I’m up here this morning and I flash back to a couple of officers I knew that got shot and killed. It just hit me hard," he said.
"It’s a tragedy and I don’t want to diminish what happened to the other African-American men, because that’s just as impactful for the community too. What I don’t want to happen is create a divide, especially in this town; we’re trying to bring everyone together.”
Marshman said that apart from one incident — where Michael Strickland, 36, is accused of waving a gun at the crowd — he was proud of the way people conducted themselves during Thursday evening’s protest in Portland.
The Reverend Mark Knutson of Augusta Lutheran asked people to work with their neighbors to weave a hopeful and beautiful community.
The president of the Urban League of Portland, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, said she understands people’s frustrations — because she has both a black family and family members who used to be in law enforcement.
“Whether you are angry and protesting and raising your voice because something must change, or at home, simply talking to friends and neighbors about what’s happened. You can feel grief for the families that have lost their loved one in Dallas, just as you can lament those who’ve lost their loved ones in Baton Rouge and Minnesota," said Harmon Johnson.
Meerah Powell/OPB
/Police Chief Mike Marshman speaks at a press conference surrounding recent police shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Meerah Powell/OPB
/Portland Urban League President and CEO Nkenge Harmon Johnson speaks at a press conference about recent police shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Shirley Chan
/Protesters linked arms and marched together down the streets of downtown Portland for the "This Can't Be Justice" solidarity protest on July 7.
Shirley Chan
/The Portland protest took place in the wake of two fatal police shootings: Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana on Tuesday; Philando Castile was shot in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Shirley Chan
/Hundreds of people marched from Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Justice Center in downtown Portland to protest the shootings of two African-American men killed this week by police officers.
Shirley Chan
/Police officers park at major intersections to redirect traffic and ensure the safety of the protestors and drivers on the road.
Shirley Chan
/Protesters gathered in the summer rain to protest two high-profile shootings of African-American men by law enforcement officers.
Shirley Chan
/People show their anger at Thursday's "This Can't Be Justice" solidarity protest in wake of the killings of Philando Castille and Alton Sterling.
Shirley Chan
/A child holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign while sitting upon a marching woman's shoulders during the Don't Shoot Portland's solidarity protest on Thursday night.
Shirley Chan
/A woman sheds tears as protesters demand for justice at Don't Shoot Portland's "This Can't Be Justice" solidarity march.
Shirley Chan
/People protesting this week's fatal police shootings of two African-American men marched through downtown Portland on Thursday, July 7.
Shirley Chan
/Protesters march down Yamhill Street on Thursday, July 7. Don't Shoot Portland organized the rally in response to deadly police shootings earlier in the week.
Shirley Chan
/Protesters in Portland called for social justice during a demonstration against the fatal police shootings of two African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota this week.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting
