Federal agents in unmarked minivans have been filmed grabbing protesters off the street in Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.
Federal law enforcement officers have been driving around downtown Portland and detaining protesters since at least July 14, according to the report.
Federal officers have charged at least 13 people with crimes related to the protest while others have been arrested and later released.
One protester was hospitalized with a skull fracture after federal officers shot him in the face with non-lethal munitions.
They’re CBP officers and US Marshals:
The officers are part of the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and Customs and Border Protection’s BORTAC, OBP reported, who were sent to the city to protect federal property.
But they have also detained protesters nowhere near federal property and it is unclear whether all of the people detained were engaged in criminal activity.
“Portland has been under siege for 47 straight days by a violent mob while local political leaders refuse to restore order to protect their city,” Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said.
Democrats call to end violence:
“We do not need or want their help,” Mayor Ted Wheeler said. “The best thing they can do is stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether.”
“Federal forces shot an unarmed protester in the face,” Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkely said in a tweet. “These shadowy forces have been escalating, not preventing, violence.”
“This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety,” Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement. “The President is failing to lead this nation. Now he is deploying federal officers to patrol the streets of Portland in a blatant abuse of power by the federal government.”
