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US forces clash with anti-racism protesters in Portalnd

Federal law enforcement officers, deployed under the Trump administration's new executive order to protect federal monuments and buildings, face off with protesters against racial inequality and police brutality in Portland, Oregon, US, July 21, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)

US federal law enforcement agents have clashed with pro-justice protesters participating in daily rallies in Portland, Oregon. 

Tactical agents deployed under the Trump administration's new executive order to protect federal monuments and buildings used tear gas and projectiles to arrest and disperse the protesters on Tuesday morning.

Following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd -- one of a multitude of defenseless Black Americans killed by police -- weeks of protests in Portland over police brutality and systemic racism intensified as federal agents began cracking down on crowds last week.

During daytime the continuous protests have been peaceful; however, at night the agent are using tear gas to disperse protesters and taking some into custody without explanation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent the tactical agents to Portland to help guard US government facilities after receiving intelligence about planned attacks around July 4, the DHS officials claimed.

“DHS is not going to back down from our responsibilities. We are not escalating, we are protecting,” Chad Wolf, acting secretary of Homeland Security, told Fox News on Monday, adding that the US federal law enforcement was doing its job.

US President Donald Trump lauded the agents harsh crackdown of Portland protesters, saying he would advise agents in other restive cities to use the same brutal tactics to clamp down on pro-justice protesters.

Trump has labelled anti-racism protesters opposed to police brutality as “anarchists and agitators.”


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