Jack-Booted Thugs in Portland

This should be a much, much bigger story:

Federal agents dressed in camouflage and tactical gear have taken to the streets of Portland, unleashing tear gas, bloodying protesters and pulling some people into unmarked vans in what Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon has called “a blatant abuse of power.”

The extraordinary use of federal force in recent days, billed as an attempt to tamp down persistent unrest and protect government property, has infuriated local leaders who say the agents have stoked tensions.

“This is an attack on our democracy,” Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland said.

The strife in Portland, which has had 50 consecutive days of protests, reflects the growing fault lines in law enforcement as President Trump threatens an assertive federal role in how cities manage a wave of national unrest after George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis police.

One Portland demonstrator, Mark Pettibone, 29, said he had been part of the protests before four people in camouflage jumped out of an unmarked van around 2 a.m. Wednesday. They had no obvious markings or identification, he said, and he had no idea who they were.

“One of the officers said, ‘It’s OK, it’s OK,’ and just grabbed me and threw me into the van,” Mr. Pettibone said. “Another officer pulled my beanie down so I couldn’t see.”

Mr. Pettibone said that he was terrified — protesters in the city have in the past clashed with far-right militia groups also wearing camouflage and tactical gear — and that at no point was he told why he was arrested or detained, or what agency the officers were with. He said he was held for about two hours before being released.

It's worth emphasizing that every Oregon elected official --- Governor Kate Brown, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkeley, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, all want these uninvited federal thugs to pack up and go home.  This makes these federal officials an illegal occupying force, and the clearest sign to date of the #TrumpDeathCult fascist tendencies.

This must be stopped, and it must be stopped now.  Otherwise, by election day, there may be federal 'law enforcement' stationed outside polling places in most Democratic-leaning precincts.

Contact your elected officials and demand an investigation.