Portland protests peaceful after federal officers scale back presence
Conspicuously missing from the demonstrations were dozens of federal officers who used tear gas and non-lethal munitions against protesters gathered outside the U.S. courthouse since early July.
Portland protests peaceful after federal officers scale back presence
Tensions have largely calmed since Wednesday’s announcement that federal agents would take a step back from policing the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse — a deal that Oregon officials hoped would ease friction between law enforcement officers and protesters who vowed to continue demonstrating until the agents left.
The courthouse became ground zero for nightly protests in July after the Trump administration sent officers from the Department of Homeland Security to protect federal property. Prior to the agents’ arrival, protests focused on police brutality, systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement. But tensions flared after federal officers showed up at the urging of President Donald Trump to “dominate” ongoing unrest.