Federal (military) are using unmarked cars to arrest Portland protesters

[mysteryowl]

According to reports, peaceful protesters have been detained with no warning or explanations since at least 14 July, 2020.


Activists in Portland, Oregon, are expressing severe alarm about recent incidents involving federal law enforcement officers using unmarked cars to detain peaceful protesters.

Federal officers deployed teargas and fired less-lethal rounds into a crowd of protesters on Thursday, hours after the the head of the Department of Homeland Security visited the city and called the demonstrators “violent anarchists”.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that federal law enforcement officers had been “using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters” since at least 14 July.

“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,” it added.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/17/portland-protests-federal-officers-george-floyd

[uponit7771]

1. What rights do citizen's have? If they come upon someone who doesn't want to go peacefully and can

... handle a gun who has the law on their side?

[JHB]

2. Not the military, but militarized Border Patrol and maybe other DHS outfits

Of course, such confusion is one of the reasons for the excessive display of tactical gear.

[madaboutharry]

3. This is unconstitutional.

If this is allowed to continue, our democracy is lost.

[Delarage]

4. I got detained once

At a small protest. By the Secret Service. SUPER-SCARY experience, I must say. Especially since I was the only one getting hassled, perhaps b/c my sign was deemed the most offensive (apparently Repukes don't like being called "Corporate Whores"

A passerby (an older black lady) stopped to witness what was going on and, although I didn't know her, I am forever indebted to her act. My friends had wandered off and I was pretty much by myself for the moment.

I can't imagine being scooped up by unmarked, unidentified federal agents

[Oldwing]

5. It is going to be a Coups d Etat - Not an Election

Trump has been conducting the politicization of agencies of government, purging and replacing key people that do the same, on down the line in their departments. He is doing the same thing with every Law Enforcement entity under direct Federal Control.
That basically means he is assembling an inner cadre of people that are loyal to him personally, bipassing conventional "chain of command." This is why we saw such a patchwork of agencies represented in DC when he did that Bible Photo-op. Corrections Officers, DHS, I.C.E., etc.. This is what the Boer South Africans did to introduce Apartheid. It's what the Communists do in every nation they take over. It's what the Nazis did, most certainly. This is real and it is now.

We saw what happened in Wisconsin, voter suppression tactics amplified by the weaponization of the Virus. We have plenty of proof that far right militia types, loyal to Trump have acted as agents provocateur, vandalizing property during peaceful protests.
Police violence fueling Civil Unrest serves his purposes. This is a propaganda instrument to justify draconian excesses into the future, e.g., the current assault on Portland.

We know that he intends to challenge and litigate every state that doesn't return Electoral College votes for him, no matter how big of a landslide it may be, falsely claiming fraud, blaming "paper ballots," etc.. On a side note, the fact that corporate media has steadfastly refused to report or under reported election malfeasance using Electronic Machines, Roll Purges, Cross Check, etc., we have no alternative narrative to the LIE regarding Paper Ballots. When there is massive civil unrest in November, during a Pandemic, while the GOP backs Trump's litigation and accusations of fraud, these Trump Loyal Secret Police will be deployed to urban regions in even larger numbers, while their covert operatives in the militias continue to infiltrate and disrupt protests.

Remember Florida in 2000 with Roger Stone's thugs stopping the vote count that ultimately gave George Bush a false victory?
Imagine that in every city in every blue state in this union. Stalling and litigating, sowing chaos during the coups d etat.

I do not believe we are ready and the so called "liberal" corporate media, while doing a pretty good job lately, I must say, do not have the sense of urgency that is required for this threat.

THESE ARE OUR KIDS BEING DECLARED TERRORISTS FOR HAVING AN ANARCHY SYMBOL ON A SKATEBOARD

I am old and I am horrified. Feeling very impotent and enraged right now.

Hello Democratic Underground. I want to apologize for not doing more in my lifetime. I saw it coming.

[Baked Potato]

7. Welcome to DU....

[beachbumbob]

6. where is ACLU?

[Nevilledog]

9. They're on it and filing suit.

Link to tweet

[marlakay]

8. Portland is known for being a strong activist

City and it is obvious that they are trying to stir things up on purpose to get focus off of virus and who knows what else they are sneaking in while we aren't looking. They have been doing this for years and I am sick of it and pray Joe gets in!

For all we know they could be stirring up a huge liberal fight to distract from schools opening.

[sarisataka]

10. Federal officers are not military

You should correct your headline

[Stuart G]

11. Kind of thing that Trump would order.

[NotASurfer]

12. Wonder if there's a penalty for possession of improvised spike strips?

Unmarked cars don't go very far with flat tires