• Protests in Portland have been renewed since the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city to crack down on the ongoing demonstrations against racism and injustice.
• Since being sent to the city, the federal officers have clashed with protestors violently, deploying tear gas and less-than-lethal munitions, and driving around in unmarked cars detaining people.
• The deployment has been highly criticized by state and local leaders, who have repeatedly asked for them to be withdrawn. Administration officials have refused to remove the agents, arguing that their presence is necessary.
• In response, the protestors have begun demonstrating against the federal agents, and over the weekend, Portland saw some of the largest protests in weeks.
• Over the weekend, the federal agents responded forcefully to the new protests. In one now-viral video, a group made a “wall of mothers” to create a human shield between the protesters and law enforcement before they were tear-gassed by the feds.
• Protestors have also engaged in violence as well, setting a police union building on fire Saturday and throwing projectiles at the officers.

Protests Escalate

Violence erupted again at protests in Portland, Oregon throughout the weekend amid heightened scrutiny over the decision by the Donald Trump administration to deploy federal law enforcement agents to the city.

Demonstrations against racial injustice and police brutality have been ongoing in the city since the death of George Floyd in late May, though they began to dwindle after a few weeks.

However, those movements recently regained momentum after the Trump administration sent agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Marshals Service to the city at the beginning of July to crack down on protesters.

The move came as part of an executive order signed by President Trump at the end of June to protect federal statues and direct DHS to create a new task force.

Since their deployment, the federal agents have continually and violently clashed with the protestors. They repeatedly fired munitions at protestors and deployed tear gas, despite a ruling from a federal judge prohibiting Portland police from doing the same unless they declare a riot. 

Last week, the situation caught the eye of the national media when Oregon Public Broadcasting (OBP), reported that unidentified federal law enforcement agents in unmarked vehicles had been grabbing protesters off the street since at least July 14.

The report, which was supported by multiple videos and personal accounts, was later confirmed Acting DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, who told NPR on Thursday that that federal agent had used unmarked vehicles to pick up people in Portland in order to keep officers safe and to move detainees to a “safe location for questioning.”

That information renewed criticism from state and local leaders, who have repeatedly demanded that the administration withdraw the federal agents. However, top DHS officials have doubled-down, continually refusing to remove the feds and scapegoating the local leaders.

In a highly charged press release issued Thursday, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf claimed that it is the local leaders, not the feds, that are making the situation worse. He also defended their presence in the city, arguing that some protestors have been destroying a federal court house, which is federal property.

“A federal courthouse is a symbol of justice – to attack it is to attack America” he said. “Instead of addressing violent criminals in their communities, local and state leaders are instead focusing on placing blame on law enforcement and requesting fewer officers in their community. This failed response has only emboldened the violent mob as it escalates violence day after day.”

“This siege can end if state and local officials decide to take appropriate action instead of refusing to enforce the law. DHS will not abdicate its solemn duty to protect federal facilities and those within them,” he continued, before going on to describe the “lawless destruction and violence” that has happened over the last six weeks in a list where he uses the phrase “violent anarchists” 72 times.

Cuccinelli also made similar remarks to NPR on Thursday.

“I fully expect that as long as people continue to be violent and to destroy property that we will attempt to identify those folks,” he said. “We will pick them up in front of the courthouse. If we spot them elsewhere, we will pick them up elsewhere.”

“That’s standard law enforcement procedure, and it’s going to continue as long as the violence continues.”

Videos Go Viral From Protests

While the Trump administration has firmly said it will ignore the demands of local leaders and keep the feds in Portland, the protests have now grown and evolved in response to those agents staying in the city.

According to reports, upwards of 1,000 people showed up to demonstrations this weekend—marking the largest crowd the city has seen in weeks— and producing several now-viral videos.

In one instance, a group made “a wall of mothers” forming a human shield between the protesters and law enforcement officials. They then stood their ground for a few hours, until the feds began using tear gas and flash bangs to break up the crowd.

In another notable moment, a Navy vet named Chris David called out a group of federal officers, reportedly after they rushed a line of protesters and knocked them to the ground. 

“Why are you not honoring your oath? Why are you not honoring your oath to the Constitution?” David asks, walking up to the officers, who proceeded to beat him with a baton and sprayed chemical irritants into his face. According to reports, his hand was broken in two spots. 

Notably, there were also some instances of protesters becoming violent. On Saturday, Portland police declared a riot after the police union building was broken into and lit on fire. Protestors also tore down fencing around the federal courthouse.

President Trump, for his part, has repeatedly praised the federal law enforcement officers in Portland and indicated that he would like to increase their presence in other U.S. cities.

On Sunday, Trump defended the decision to utilize the agents in a tweet.

“We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it,” he wrote. “Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!”

See what others are saying: (NPR) (The New York Times) (USA Today)