Portland Protest Unidentified Federal Authorities Intervention

Overview

Portland Protest Unidentified Federal Authorities Intervention refers to the reaction to unidentified federal agents arresting protesters by reportedly taking them in unmarked vehicles to undisclosed locations without stated cause.

Background

On July 13th, 2020, President Donald Trump held a press conference during which he commented on the 2020 George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and racism in Portland, Oregon. He said:^[1]

We've done a great job in Portland. Portland was totally out of control, and they went in, and I guess we have many people right now in jail. We very much quelled it, and if it starts again, we'll quell it again very easily. It's not hard to do, if you know what you're doing.

On July 15th, Twitter user @matcha_chai tweeted a video of an altercation with unidentified federal agents arresting a protester. They wrote, "These federal officers (?) just rushed up and arrested someone for no reason." The tweet received more than 12 million views, 3,700 likes and 2,800 retweets in less than one week (shown below).

These federal officers (?) just rushed up and arrested someone for no reason pic.twitter.com/xcFVuoMZmN

— Matcha chai (@matcha_chai) July 15, 2020

Developments

On July 17th, 2020, OPB^[2] reported, "Federal Law Enforcement Use Unmarked Vehicles To Grab Protesters Off Portland Streets." In the article they wrote:

Federal law enforcement officers have been using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters since at least July 14. 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.

The tactic appears to be another escalation in federal force deployed on Portland city streets, as federal officials and President Donald Trump have said they plan to “quell” nightly protests outside the federal courthouse and Multnomah County Justice Center that have lasted for more than six weeks.

Federal officers have charged at least 13 people with crimes related to the protests so far, while others have been arrested and released, including Pettibone. They also left one demonstrator hospitalized with skull fractures after shooting him in the face with so-called “less lethal” munitions July 11.

According to OPB, "officers from the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and Customs and Border Protection’s BORTAC" were being used to protect federal property. But as the outlet notes, "officers are also detaining people on Portland streets who aren’t near federal property, nor is it clear that all of the people being arrested have engaged in criminal activity."

On July 17th, the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security tweeted,^[3] "Our men and women in uniform are patriots. We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch" (shown below, left). He continued, "Here is what I saw in Portland yesterday" and "These valiant men and women have defended our institutions of justice against violent anarchists for 48 straight days. We will prevail" (shown below, center and right).

Online Reaction

The video sparked conversation online. Redditor^[6] down-with-stonks shared the video in the /r/publicfreakout subreddit. The post received more than 85,000 points (86% upvoted) and 7,100 comments. Redditor^[7] Upset-Pumpkin shared a report from the Guardian in which "Portland mayor demands removal of camouflage-clad agents detaining protesters." The post received more than 73,000 reactions (88% upvoted) and 5,300 comments in less than one week.

On July 18th, Twitter user @RationalDis shared a video of "Federal police strike protester with baton, use pepper spray and tear gas outside courthouse in Portland." The tweet received more than 10 million views, 71,000 likes and 36,000 retweets in less than two days (shown below).

Federal police strike protester with baton, use pepper spray and tear gas outside courthouse in Portland pic.twitter.com/VX2xTVaaYq

— Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) July 19, 2020

Wall of Moms

On July 18th, Facebook ^[4] Bev Barnum created the Facebook event "Wall of Moms." They wrote, "Calling all moms. Let’s do what we do best- protect people. As most of you have read and seen on the news, protestors are being hurt (without cause). And as of late, protestors are being stripped of their rights by being placed in unmarked cars by unidentifiable law enforcement. We moms are often underestimated. But we’re stronger than we’re given credit for. So what do you say, will you stand with me? Will you help me create a wall of moms?"

That day, a group of mothers in white formed a barricade between police and protesters in Portland. Twitter^[5] user @LindseyPSmith7 tweeted a photograph of the women with the caption, "This group, who says they’re moms against police brutality, is making a human barricade at 3rd & Main." The tweet received more than 9,500 likes and 3,300 retweets in less than two days (shown below).

She also posted a video of the moms, writing, "A crowd of about 400 has now occupied both SW 3rd and SW Main. The moms are chanting, 'Feds stay clear! Moms are here!' at the federal courthouse. All three fences are still up." The tweet received more than 5.5 million views, 8,300 likes and 3,100 retweets in less than two days (shown below).

A crowd of about 400 has now occupied both SW 3rd and SW Main.

The moms are chanting, “Feds stay clear! Moms are here!” at the federal courthouse.

All three fences are still up. pic.twitter.com/jhJ09NUxGW

— Lindsey Smith (she/her) (@LindseyPSmith7) July 19, 2020

Naked Athena

On July 18th, Twitter user @DonovanFarley tweeted a video of a naked women at the protest with the caption, "And then? Naked Athena appeared and the little boys didn’t know what to do." The tweet received more than 422,000 views, 14,000 likes and 7,600 retweets in less than two days (shown below).

And then? Naked Athena appeared and the little boys didn’t know what to do. pic.twitter.com/Elo69SsV0t

— Donovan “It was the blurst of times” Farley 💻🐒 (@DonovanFarley) July 18, 2020

That day, Twitter^[5] user @cigafterrurex tweeted, "naked Athena of Portland Oregon making the cops back off protestors by stripping naked and sitting down in the street showing she has nothing to be of a threat to them so they couldn’t advance without cause ❤️❤️❤️ a queeeen." The tweet received more than 15,000 likes and 4,500 retweets in less than two days (shown below).

Search Interest

External References