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Lawmakers, city leaders react to agreement to withdraw federal officers from Portland

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and members of the Trump administration offered different views on the agreement after it was announced Wednesday morning.

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday morning announced the federal government has agreed to begin withdrawing its officers from downtown Portland, starting on Thursday.

Most of the federal officers will be replaced by Oregon State Police troopers, Brown said.

As news of the governor's announcement spread, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf offered a different view of the agreement. He said federal officers will leave Portland once state police secure federal properties.

RELATED: Federal government agrees to withdraw its officers from Portland, Gov. Brown announces

Here are reactions to the agreement from lawmakers, federal officials and Portland city leaders:

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown

Our local Oregon State Police officers will be downtown to protect Oregonians' right to free speech and keep the peace. Let's center the Black Lives Matter movement's demands for racial justice and police accountability. It's time for bold action to reform police practices.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) July 29, 2020

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf

As I told the Governor yesterday, federal law enforcement will remain in Portland until the violent activity toward our federal facilities ends. We are not removing any law enforcement while our facilities and law enforcement remain under attack.
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) July 29, 2020

.@POTUS made clear that this Administration is ready and willing to partner with state & local law enforcement to protect every American – and you see that commitment in Portland with this plan.
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) July 29, 2020

President Donald Trump

...do not stop the Crime and Violence from the Anarchists and Agitators immediately, the Federal Government will go in and do the job that local law enforcement was supposed to do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler

The daily coverage of their actions has distracted our community from the Black voices at the center of this movement, and the urgent work of reform. I appreciate Governor Brown’s leadership in this discussion and her willingness to step in with State resources.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 29, 2020

For nearly two months, many thousands of Portlanders have committed to conversation and action centered on police and criminal justice system reform in our community. Local and State leaders have taken meaningful steps. And we are poised to do more.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 29, 2020

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell

We appreciate @OregonGovBrown for her support in providing needed help de-escalate the situation.
— Chief Chuck Lovell (@ChiefCLovell) July 29, 2020

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden

I’m especially concerned there’s no specific timeline for a full withdrawal of Bill Barr and Donald Trump’s minions. That’s a loophole big enough to drive an armored personnel carrier through. Bottom line, this occupation should never have happened.
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 29, 2020

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley

“This announcement is an important step in ending the deployment of Trump’s secret police on the streets of America. These forces—with no agency or unique identification—have attacked peaceful protestors night after night and swept a number into unmarked vans. These militia-style attacks on free speech and the right to assemble have no place in our democratic republic and must end. Trump’s strategy to shift attention away from Black Lives Matter and the reform of systemic racism must not succeed.”

Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton

Post by OSPsocial.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Promising developments but we still must do more to ensure no other city endures these Gestapo-like tactics and that Trump and his cronies are held accountable for their abuses of power.

At the same time, let's get back to the work of improving Black lives — because they matter. https://t.co/mdgLqOW65B
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) July 29, 2020

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici

I commend @OregonGovBrown for her leadership in negotiating this exit. I will continue to closely monitor the situation, and I will keep working on legislation to make sure this never happens again in Portland or anywhere else.
— Suzanne Bonamici (@RepBonamici) July 29, 2020

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan

Let me be clear, the highly trained and dedicated @CBP officers and agents are not leaving Portland. We will remain until the violent criminal activity towards our federal facilities and personnel ends.
— CBP Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) July 29, 2020

Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury

This is welcome news, and the Trump admin. must be stopped from taking their harmful tactics elsewhere. Their departure is necessary for our community to focus on building racial justice and dismantling systemic racism. @Multco will continue to do the work this movement requires. https://t.co/JIEesZFqXO
— Deborah Kafoury (@dkafoury) July 29, 2020

RELATED: 'The message has to be central that Black lives matter’: NAACP leader on focus of Portland protests