Portland protests: US federal agents 'will not retreat', Chad Wolf says
In recent days, however, violent clashes between demonstrators and federal law enforcement officers have escalated.Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Wolf said federal law enforcement officers in Portland were only targeting and arresting demonstrators who had been identified as being involved in"criminal activity".
On Monday evening, federal officers fired tear gas to disperse large crowds of protesters - some armed with hammers - who had gathered outside the city's courthouse and were throwing projectiles. "These officers are not military, they are civilian police officers," he said, adding that they were required to restore order following"violent criminal activity every single night for 52 nights" and in response to"a lack of action from city officials".
A report from Oregon Public Broadcasting this week contained detailed accounts of witnesses who had seen federal law enforcement officers dressed in camouflage emerge from unmarked vehicles, grab protesters without explanation, and drive off.Media playback is unsupported on your deviceAt the weekend, fencing erected around the federal courthouse to protect the building was dismantled by protesters just hours after it was put up.
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