Federal agents again use tear gas to clear rowdy protests in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal agents again repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests in Portland, Ore., that continued into the early morning Saturday as demonstrations that have happened every night for two months showed no signs of letting up.
Authorities said six federal officers were injured and one person was arrested.
Thousands gathered in front of the downtown federal courthouse beginning Friday evening. Demonstrations have happened in Oregon’s largest city nightly since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May. President Donald Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest, but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse.
Late Friday, a federal judge denied a request by Oregon’s attorney general to restrict the actions of federal police.
The latest demonstration went until federal agents entered the crowd around 2:30 a.m. Saturday and marched in a line down the street, clearing remaining protesters with volleys of tear gas at close range. They also extinguished a large fire in the street outside the courthouse.
The Federal Protective Service had declared the gathering in Portland that began Friday evening “an unlawful assembly.” Harry Fones, a Homeland Security spokesman, said at a news conference Saturday some people launched large fireworks, threw hard projectiles and used power tools to damage property.
Craig Gabriel, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon, said at the news conference that of the six federal officers who were injured, one suffered a concussion and another was taken to the hospital for burns.
He said one person was arrested for failing to comply with orders. That person was later released without charges, bringing the total number of people arrested on or near the courthouse property since early July to 60.
“It’s the very few of the crowd who come not intent on doing anything with their voice but intent on destruction and intent on confrontation, unfortunately, with federal police,” Mr. Gabriel said, acknowledging the majority of protesters are peaceful.