News is breaking about Homeland Security troops grabbing people off the streets of Portland in unmarked rental cars, without ID, and in violation of fundamental rights. If the news is half accurate, we must stand up in protest or we risk losing everything as a country. Please pay attention, share information, and voice your concerns loudly.
Portland Mercury has an initial report.
Another account from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
I will update this post with links and other info.
From the OPB story
Federal law enforcement officers have been using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters since at least July 14. Personal accounts and multiple videos posted online show the officers driving up to people, detaining individuals with no explanation of why they are being arrested, and driving off.
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But interviews conducted by OPB show officers are also detaining people on Portland streets who aren’t near federal property, nor is it clear that all of the people being arrested have engaged in criminal activity. Demonstrators like O’Shea and Pettibone said they think they were targeted by federal officers for simply wearing black clothing in the area of the demonstration.
The Portland Tribune reported earlier in the day that the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, Chris Wolf, was in Portland to deal with protesters at the federal courthouse. Senator Jeff Merkeley spoke out against DHS presence as an escalation in a second report.