Portland officials decry aggressive tactics of federal agents in their city
City officials on Friday demanded the Trump administration remove what they called a heavy-handed army of federal agents who have been grabbing protesters off the streets — tactics that federal officials defended as legal and necessary to quell ongoing unrest.
The fight between the White House and the left-leaning city government intensified Friday amid videos and firsthand accounts of mysterious federal agents driving around in unmarked rental minivans and detaining protesters.
Friday night saw additional clashes, as federal agents used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to disperse a group of protesters. At least one person was arrested.
The unrest intensified in the early morning hours, as some protesters hurled water bottles and set off smoke bombs and fireworks aimed at courthouse and police buildings.
“I wonder what country I’m living in,” said protester Beth Fernandez. “Having the feds come in and try to quench this anger is not the right approach and we want them out.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called the federal agents Trump’s “personal army” and said they should leave the city.
“This is part of a coordinated strategy of Trump’s White House to use federal troops to bolster his sagging polling data, and it is an absolute abuse of federal law enforcement officials,” Wheeler said. “As we were starting to see things de-escalate, their actions last Saturday night and every night since have actually ratcheted up the tension on our streets.” [Continue reading…]