Federal agents go to Portland
And wind up making things worse...
Like a lot of cities Portland, Oregon has had protests since the death of George Floyd and like a lot of cities those protests have mainly been peaceful, although there has been some violence and vandalism.
So prior to the Fourth of July weekend the Trump administration sent teams of federal agents to Portland to guard federal property.
Since their arrival those federal agents have been accused of using excessive force and Gestapo-like tactics.
One protestor was shot in the head with “impact munitions used for riot control” and seriously injured.
Another protester was beaten with a baton and hit with pepper spray.
Someone else was snatched off the street by two men in camouflage tactical uniforms and detained in an unmarked van.
Stuff like this led Sen. Jeff Merkley, to send out a tweet that said:
“Authoritarian governments, not democratic republics, send unmarked vehicles after protesters. These Trump/Barr tactics designed to eliminate any accountability are unacceptable in America must end.”
And Portland’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, had this to say about the federal agents:
“What they are doing is sharply escalating the situation. Their presence is actually leading to more violence and more vandalism and it’s not helping the situation at all. They’re not wanted here.”
But some people think helping the situation is not the point; those cynics – and I’m right there with them – think Trump wants to paint peaceful protestors as anarchists. Encouraging chaos and violence actually helps Trump so he can pose as the law and order president, which is probably a smart move from his point of view because he sure as hell can’t pose as the I-handled-the-coronavirus-crisis-well president.
The federal agents’ tactics reminded me of that “We had to destroy the village to save it” brand of logic and led me to draw the cartoon posted above.
As one protester said:
“It’s ironic that we’re getting tear gassed for protesting against aggressive police tactics.”
Good point. And if you see me turn that into a cartoon, don’t be surprised.
Hmmm, two Democrats. What a surprise. Politics afire.