To me, the point of the protests was lost when people started trashing buildings. I'm not judging others, I'm not going to apologize for their actions but I'm not participating.
I was not aware of this recent crime by federal officials. What I wonder is, what's the point? Just driving around arresting young people wearing fashionable black clothing isn't going to change Portland's attitude toward Trump or damp down the protests. There is no indication that anybody in Portland or Oregon government were involved in this. I wouldn't be surprised if our Police dept. was. As the article said, the officers are not local and don't know what they are doing. This looks to me that Trump is getting his goons in to Portland for training and practice. Or perhaps they are intentionally stirring the pot to drive divisions in the community.
The Republican Nazi Party seems to like to make our city an example for others. Trump's goons will be back unless something happens that makes it too painful for them to do so. Apparently, following the law is not something they care about. It's going to be a long and hot summer.
Naturally, from the mayor to the governor to the senators, Oregon's leaders are demanding answers to their questions and at least one lawsuit will be filed over this. This is just noise to Trump. He doesn't follow the laws, the courts are just tools to him. I don't think the constitution or our laws were written with Trump's disregard for them in mind, so he just does what he wants.
This article (below) was posted regarding events Thursday night, the day after the Federal-vans pulled off their abductions. Pretty clearly, the goon squad roaming streets on Wednesday night did in fact agitate the crowd. Portland and Oregon governments both want the feds gone. The kind of crap Trump's goons are pulling off are not helpful.
Federal officers respond to Portland protests with gas, munitions Thursday amid growing attention from Trump administration
Updated Jul 17, 2020; Posted Jul 16, 2020
The confrontation between federal officers and protesters came hours after interim Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf arrived in Portland to meet with federal law enforcement officials.
www.oregonlive.com
Thursday’s demonstrations came as elected leaders, including Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called on federal officers to leave Portland. Both said they had no plans to meet with Wolf while he was in the city, and Wheeler said he would decline if asked.
Brown called the deployment of federal officers “blatant abuse of power by the federal government.” “This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety,” she said. “The President is failing to lead this nation.”