Sen. Portman says US military intervention not needed in Ohio

U.S. Senator Rob Portman says the U.S. military intervention is not needed in Ohio. The senator, a republican who lives in southwest Ohio, says the National Guard and local law enforcement can handle situations in Ohio.

Senator Portman also said it should be up to mayors and governors to ask for federal help, if they believe it is needed.

According to the Associated Press, Senator Portman made the comments on a phone call with reporters. He was asked about recent comments made by President Trump.

“But I do believe he can and should do more ... you know, words matter. And we need to be sure we’re not inflaming this situation,” Portman said, as quoted by the Associated Press. “This is a time for healing, it’s a time to calm things down so we can have a dialogue. And I think that’s what’s needed right now.”

Senator Portman also gave a statement on the floor of the United States Senate. The statement was transcribed by staff, and reads in part:

“Joining many others, I’ve made it clear that what happened to these Americans is outrageous and unacceptable. It was very hard to watch that video of George Floyd, a man who his family described as a ‘gentle giant’, literally begging for his life. ‘I can’t breathe,’ he said. ‘Don’t kill me,’ he pleaded. Those were his final words. This simply cannot be allowed to continue in America, and, by the way, no one I know in law enforcement believes this behavior should be allowed, either.

“Each of these acts and other acts of injustice against black Americans is deeply troubling in its own right. The combination of these injustices right now in the midst of concerns about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color has created a firestorm. Right now many feel overwhelmed by the sadness, anger, and helplessness. Our hearts are with the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and every American who has experienced injustices in the shadows, away from the cameras, outside of the news headlines, in their daily lives. It's good that federal, state and local investigations are underway in the Floyd and Arbery cases, and just that murder charges have been filed. We must all demand that justice be served, fully and thoroughly. We are a nation of laws, and we must work to uphold those laws to protect everyone.”

The senator also talked about some of the protests and violence in parts of Ohio..

"Over the past couple of days I have spoken with the Mayors of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus, our three biggest cities in Ohio, all three of which have had peaceful protests and destructive rioting. I commend each of them for their support of citizens demonstrating peacefully and for what they have done to try and stop the violence. We talked about cultivating hope for a better world. I will continue to try to use this podium here in the U.S. Senate to foster unity and discussions with my colleagues, my constituents, and leaders across Ohio.”

Senator Portman also talked about an initiative with federal involvement in Cincinnati, and using it as part of finding solutions. You can read the entire statement, and watch the floor speech, by clicking here for a news release from the senator’s office.

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