Reports have surfaced from Portland, Oregon that armed federal officers have been grabbing protestors off the streets and detaining them in unmarked minivans, all without stating a basis for arrest. Portland resident Mark Pettibone was arrested walking the streets of the city in the early hours of July 15th, transported to a federal courthouse where he was held and read Miranda rights. After refusing to answer police questions and demanding a lawyer, Pettibone was released. Overall, at least 13 people have been formally charged.
The Trump administration has labelled largely the peaceful protesters in the city as “violent anarchists”, whilst the President himself stated “We very much quelled it [protests], and if it starts again, we’ll quell it again.” Trump further congratulated federal agents for doing a “great job”. These arrests have been blatantly unconstitutional in violating the people’s right to peaceful protests; highlighting the irony of deeming Second Amendment gun laws ‘sacred’ with one hand whilst explicitly violating the First Amendment with the other.
Attorney General for the State of Oregon Ellen Rosenblum has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for the unlawful detaining of protestors. A restraining order to prevent federal agents from making any further arrests within the city has been requested, including the Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, US Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Protection Service.
Black Lives Matter protests continue in Portland, and across the United States.
Written by Emily Jenkins
Artwork by Zara Masood
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