PORTLAND, Ore., — Conflicts between law enforcement and protesters intensified Monday night after the Trump administration deployed federal forces from an array of agencies to crack down on demonstrations, which began in response to the killing of George Floyd, and have extended for 54 consecutive days.
Federal agents used tear gas and fired munitions on protesters outside the U.S. District Court Building in the early hours on Tuesday, after thousands had gathered at the Multnomah County Justice Center, nearby in downtown on Monday night.
President Trump has sought to portray the city as lawless, and filled with “anarchists and agitators.” The protests have led to some cases of property damage, and on Tuesday morning, the police reported that a jewelry store had been looted. In recent days, though, demonstrations have brought together a wide variety of protesters.
Luis Enrique Marquez, a self-described anti-fascist who has been a fixture at protests in Portland for years, said, “With every act of violence they commit, our numbers seem to grow, people seem to get more angry.”
