Security in the U.S. Lies in the
People's Defence of the Rights of All
People in Portland, Oregon Fight Trump's Imposition of Federal Forces to Suppress Protests
 
Demonstrations in Portland, Oregon persist and
have increased in size as many join in rejecting
the use and violence of federal forces and the
complete lack of accountability for their actions.
The federal forces were sent June 29 and have
continued to intervene, using tear gas
indiscriminately without warning, beating two
street medics, a veteran and others with
nightsticks, and using lethal rubber bullets and
pepper spray against journalists. At least one
protester was shot in the face with a rubber
bullet and hospitalized with a fractured
skull. Tear gas has been used nightly, literally
fogging the downtown area, despite a federal court
order -- won by demonstrators in June -- banning
the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
 Actions
in Portland have persisted for 58 days as of July
25, including many of
more than 10,000 people in May, joining millions
across the U.S.
demanding justice for the racist police killing of
George Floyd and now
again thousands daily demanding federal forces get
out of Portland and
the rights of all be protected.
On July 17 viral videos showed federal forces in
unmarked vans kidnapping protesters off the
streets, as well as of them
beating protesters with batons and another of the
tear gassing of a
peaceful protest without warning.
On July 18 dozens of moms came out and linked
arms, positioning themselves between the heavily
armed federal forces and the youth and others
demonstrating. They too were tear gassed and
assaulted and then they came back in even larger
numbers on July 19. Said a mom representing the
views of many, "We're alongside the fence telling
them: 'Feds go home, the moms are here.'" The Moms
are saying, "You're not gonna hurt our kids." They
have become known as The Wall of Moms and chapters
are now forming in cities across the country to
assist in strengthening the organized resistance.
The Moms are also calling on the federal forces to
not follow illegal orders, chanting, "Don't Shoot
Your Mother."
A large group of fathers, known as Leaf Blowers
Against Tear Gas, also joined in. They used garden
leaf blowers to help disperse the tear gas and
blow it back toward the federal forces. As one
said, "Everyone knows a leaf blower is the tool
dads use to clean up messes."
The more the police take over the role of judge,
jury
and executioner, the more they engage in actions
which verge on war
crimes and crimes against humanity. They also
inhibit freedom of the
press and assembly. This angers many, bringing
people who have not come
out before to the demonstrations.
The federal forces deployed by the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) include a special elite
squad from Customs and Border Protection, the
Border Patrol Tactical Unit, (BORTAC) commonly
used for highly dangerous and violent missions,
including in Iraq and Afghanistan. BORTAC uses
snipers and flash bang grenades, which stun all
those in range and can cause deafness, severe
burns and sever limbs. Both have been used in
Portland.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also
present, as is the Federal Protective Service,
which usually protects federal buildings. U.S.
Marshals are also involved and various others. All
are generally clothed in the same military-style
fatigues, heavily armed and operating without
identifying badges or jackets and without name
tags.
"Snatch and grab" operations are also taking
place. This police tactic, practised by U.S.
Homeland Security during the 2010 G20 in Toronto,
consists of a dual process of intelligence
gathering and target extraction.
"In Portland, Oregon, federal agents in military
fatigues have for several days been patrolling the
streets amid ongoing protests about police
brutality. These forces, employed by the
Department of Homeland Security, have snatched
people off the streets of the city, refused to
identify themselves, and detained people without
charges. Ostensibly, they are present to protect
federal buildings from protesters. In practice,
they seem to be acting on a much wider mandate,
either to suppress protests or (more cynically) to
provoke confrontation on behalf of a flailing
White House that sees it as electorally
beneficial," writes David A. Graham in The
Atlantic.
DHS specifically formed the Protecting American
Communities Task Force following Trump's executive
order of June 26. The order makes it a felony to
deface or remove federal statues -- currently a
main means of protest against government racism
and glorification of confederate generals and
slave owners. DHS officials have said they expect
the "unrest" across the country to escalate at
least through the November election.
While protection of federal buildings, like
courthouses, is being used to justify the
intervention, it is clear the aim is to further
suppress resistance and terrorize cities while
also imposing federal control of policing over
state and local forces. In many ways Portland is a
live exercise for Trump, testing the readiness of
DHS forces to carry out unjust and illegal orders,
the response of state and local officials, and the
resilience of demonstrators. In Portland and
throughout the U.S. the forces fighting for change
which ends racism, police killings, brutality and
impunity, for justice, equality and security, have
answered loud and clear that they are determined
and undaunted by attempts of local and federal
forces to suppress their protest movement.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 27 - July 25, 2020
Article Link:
Security in the U.S. Lies in the
People's Defence of the Rights of All: People in Portland, Oregon Fight Trump's Imposition of Federal Forces to Suppress Protests
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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