Black Lives Matter activist plans to enter Portland mayoral 2020 race

One of Portland’s most prominent political activists and a leader of the city’s Black Lives Matter movement said she will challenge Mayor Ted Wheeler should he seek re-election.

Teressa Raiford told The Oregonian/OregonLive that a failure by Wheeler and other elected officials to address the need for police accountability and public safety prompted her interest in the city’s highest office.

“Politicians are undermining the safety of our community, the most important issue in our city” she said. Wheeler, whose term extends until 2020, has yet to finish his first year in office.

Raiford emerged as an outspoken critic of City Hall after she founded the accountability group Don’t Shoot Portland in 2014.

She’s led numerous protests across the city on issues ranging from police violence to Portland’s lack of affordable housing. Her organization focuses on a variety of social justice causes.

Raiford, 47, said that she planned to make a formal announcement within the next week, though she’s already taken a few public steps to indicate her intention.