The outlook for Aug. 17 could hardly be more ominous. For weeks, right-wing organizers have called on supporters from around the country to come to Portland that day for a protest targeting Portland antifascists. Antifascists are summoning their own members to counter the groups and pledging to “continue to defend our community from the rise of fascism.”

That alone would set the stage for the demonstrations to erupt into an hours-long street brawl, as previous clashes often have. But the recent mass shootings in California, Texas and Ohio, underscored by the racist screed allegedly posted to a message board by the El Paso shooting suspect, threaten to push the devastation of a clash off the Richter scale.

Portlanders, it’s time to reclaim our city.

That means rejecting not just the message of hate that some are trying to bring to Portland, but also the violence that has characterized these protests for too long. Our city is rightly proud of our long history of peaceful dissent, a reputation that has been co-opted by those more interested in grinding down others who disagree than in winning over minds.

But to do that, Portland – the mayor, police, community leaders and our residents – must sidestep the traps we keep falling into time after time after time.

So far, Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw are doing their part to change the dynamic. Both have warned that protesters looking to commit violence should just stay home, because this city will not tolerate it. While Wheeler has previously allowed political pressures to cloud his judgment as police commissioner, he appears to be adopting the firm, clear and politically neutral mission that any legitimate police force must embrace. The mandate to ensure public safety cannot come with caveats that police should first determine whether any single person “deserves” protection or not.

As New York City and Washington D.C. have shown, a strong police presence is critical for maintaining a safe distance between groups and preventing violence. While Portland lacks the sheer number of law enforcement officers those cities have, Wheeler and Outlaw are working with federal, state and county officials to line up reinforcements. Wheeler also said he is looking to use other city resources – for example, water bureau pick-up trucks – to help physically keep protest groups separated.

We’ve already seen what happens when police leave dueling demonstrators to largely manage themselves. Protests on Aug. 6, 2017 between right wing and antifascist demonstrators resulted in numerous injuries with people punching and throwing one another to the ground. No matter how peaceful people’s intentions may be at the start, it takes only a tiny spark ­– a taunt, a gesture, a feint – to ignite pent-up emotion into a full-scale fight.

And that assumes that everyone in the crowd has peaceful intentions. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen over and over again, some individuals do not. Acts of violence, regardless of who commits them and what they believe, don’t belong in a demonstration protected by freedom of expression. In those instances, they are not championing values. Rather, they are looking to physically stamp out those who disagree. It’s a difficult balance to achieve in an ever-changing situation, but police must act swiftly to stop these actions cold while allowing true expression to continue.

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Community leaders also have a role to play. The mayor’s office is coordinating an Aug. 14 gathering of representatives from across the community to jointly denounce hate and deliver a message of peace. Civil rights groups that have been critical of Portland Police should join the effort, along with business, faith leaders and communities of color. While they should continue holding police accountable for the job they do in upholding public safety, they should also make it clear to Portlanders that committing violence in the guise of exercising free speech is not a civil right.

That leaves Portlanders. This city of 600,000 people shows every day how deeply it values the strength, opportunity and growth that comes from a diverse community. We look for ways to expand our inclusiveness in government, business and education. We vote for leaders who reflect or embrace multiculturalism as inherent to our civic character. And we strive to recognize the racism and mistakes of the past that persist into the present. As imperfect as we are, this community is firmly pointed in the direction of progress.

But that spirit isn’t captured in the images making their rounds in national outlets showing protests devolving into brawls or featuring the milkshake-covered, bruised face of a conservative writer. Such acts of violence should never override the message of unity and hope that Portland embodies.

We don’t have to be props for right-wing outsiders who come here looking for people to taunt or fight. We don’t have to feed their sense of self-aggrandizement by losing our cool. We don’t have to wear masks or throw milkshakes to make a singular, eloquent statement about the values Portland stands for. We can demonstrate peace and demonstrate peacefully.

This is our city. What will we show the world?