Trump deploys paramilitary to suppress Portland protests
PORTLAND, A CITY in Oregon, US became the subject of a number of news reports since the deployment of federal agents there by Donald Trump last July 4 to suppress mass protests being conducted in the area. Citizens were enraged and raised alarm over the spate of kidnapping and arbitrary arrests perpetrated by operatives in plainclothes against rallyists. These paramilitary forces use tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and flash grenades to disperse nightly protests in front of a federal structure.
Federal agents serve as paramilitary forces which are under the direct command of the the Department of Homeland Defense. They are unlike police operatives that are under the control of US states and cities. Residents have been protesting in the area for two months already in support of the the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Portland City mayor and the Oregon governor condemned Trump’s deployment of federal agent and for using militarist tactics to suppress the rallyists. Paramilitary violence and presence resulted in even bigger protest actions. Last July 23, the local government refused to cooperate with the paramilitary agents and demanded their withdrawal.