The summary arrest of demonstrators, arrested on the streets of Portland (Oregon) and taken away by federal agents circulating in unmarked vehicles, reacted many human rights activists and American elected officials.
“What is happening in Portland right now should worry everyone in the United States, launched Friday, July 17, Jann Carson, head of the powerful civil rights organization ACLU in the state of the northwest of the country. Usually when you see people in unmarked cars forcibly take someone from the street, it’s called kidnapping. “
According to local media, federal agents have been driving through central Portland and arresting protesters without giving them reasons since at least July 14.
This is notably what Mark Pettibone, 29, told Washington Post. He was arrested by men in khaki uniforms who emerged from a civilian van that had stopped near him: “It looked like a horror or science fiction movie. “ The young man said he was taken to a federal court and released later without being told the reasons for his arrest and whether or not he was charged with a crime.
“A political comedy” castigated by the governor of Oregon
In a statement released on Friday, the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), which reports to the United States’ Department of the Interior, explained that its agents had carried out the arrest after having had “Information” that Mark Pettibone was on a video where he was “Suspected” physically attacking federal agents or property.
“When CBP officers approached the suspect, a large, violent crowd moved towards them. For everyone’s safety, officers quickly transferred the suspect to a safer place for questioning ”, the agency told Agence France-Presse (AFP), assuring that they had identified themselves in due form and wore the insignia of their organization.
Federal agents have been deployed to Portland to end the nightly protests in front of the city’s federal court to protest police brutality and racism.
Oregon Democratic Governor Kate Brown criticized the government for intervention in the city on Twitter. “This political comedy of President Trump has nothing to do with public safety”, she wrote.
