by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
I've written about Portland, Oregon, previously in this space. During normal years, those without a rampaging plague, I travel to Salem, Oregon (the state capital), at least twice a year to see my West Coast grandchildren. When I make that trip, I always fly into and out of Portland, the largest city in the state, and then rent a car at the airport to get to and from Salem which is about sixty miles southeast of Portland. I usually spend the last night of each trip in the city of Portland where I invariably sample some of its excellent cuisine and culture.
Portland is a great city with lots to see and do and a great rail system for carting people all around the metropolis. Politically it is decidedly left-of-center, and the city prides itself on being a bit "weird." It is also one of those rare places in America where almost everyone you encounter is friendly and more than happy to assist a stranger with questions.
Portland, Oregon, has no overt allegiance to Donald Trump, nor would he ever expect any political favors from the city - or even from the entire state of Oregon for that matter. Because the city and state have no political value for Trump, they can readily serve as targets of his political machinations without fear of any political losses whatsoever.
Because the people of Portland tend to be outspoken, political protests are not uncommon in the city. Several years ago while I was shopping in and around Pioneer Square I literally stumbled into a protest in support of Army PFC Chelsea (Bradley) Manning. There was no open hostility in the group, just a collection of concerned individuals holding homemade signs and chanting. If any of them needed a bathroom break, the local stores allowed them inside to use their facilities. It was a real community affair.
For the past several weeks Portland has been dealing with protesters who are supporting the "Black Lives Matter" movement, and Donald Trump, who has been on the lookout for an easy target, decided that Portland would be an ideal place to flex his authoritarian muscle. Approximately two weeks ago he sent in federal troops whose mission ostensibly was to "restore" order.
Trump's troops are on the streets of downtown Portland in camouflage fatigue uniforms and armed with assault weapons. They are not wearing name tags or any form of unit identification. It is unclear if they are active duty military, reservists, representatives of federal agencies, or members of contracted private militias, but they appear to be under the direct control of Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. Wolf, who seems to fancy himself as being some sort of military leader, has no military background and was recently described by a writer in Mother Jones magazine as a "former airport security bureaucrat who became a lobbyist." Since his promotion to his current acting position last November, Wolf has quickly become a Trump favorite.
Yesterday a clip played on social media showing a couple of these mysterious men in uniform taking a lone protester into custody and then placing him in the back of a minivan that was filled with other uniformed personnel - and driving away. The man was reportedly released at another location without charges.
The federal troops are working completely independent of local and state police.
Regardless of who these secret forces are - or what there exact mission is - the state of Oregon did not request their presence, and the state of Oregon does not want their presence. Members of the Oregon congressional delegation are calling for their immediate removal, as is Kate Brown, the governor of Oregon.
Last night Oregon's attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking a temporary restraining order that would bar the Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies from seizing and detaining Portland protesters without probable cause.
Rosenblum said:
Many in Oregon see the presence of federal troops as an unlawful incursion and a challenge to the state's right to do its own policing. Others are more cynical and suggest that it is an election ploy by Trump designed to create footage of his government being tough on protesters.
And still others see it as a sneak peek at what a second Trump term in office would look like.
Be afraid, America - be very afraid!
Citizen Journalist
I've written about Portland, Oregon, previously in this space. During normal years, those without a rampaging plague, I travel to Salem, Oregon (the state capital), at least twice a year to see my West Coast grandchildren. When I make that trip, I always fly into and out of Portland, the largest city in the state, and then rent a car at the airport to get to and from Salem which is about sixty miles southeast of Portland. I usually spend the last night of each trip in the city of Portland where I invariably sample some of its excellent cuisine and culture.
Portland is a great city with lots to see and do and a great rail system for carting people all around the metropolis. Politically it is decidedly left-of-center, and the city prides itself on being a bit "weird." It is also one of those rare places in America where almost everyone you encounter is friendly and more than happy to assist a stranger with questions.
Portland, Oregon, has no overt allegiance to Donald Trump, nor would he ever expect any political favors from the city - or even from the entire state of Oregon for that matter. Because the city and state have no political value for Trump, they can readily serve as targets of his political machinations without fear of any political losses whatsoever.
Because the people of Portland tend to be outspoken, political protests are not uncommon in the city. Several years ago while I was shopping in and around Pioneer Square I literally stumbled into a protest in support of Army PFC Chelsea (Bradley) Manning. There was no open hostility in the group, just a collection of concerned individuals holding homemade signs and chanting. If any of them needed a bathroom break, the local stores allowed them inside to use their facilities. It was a real community affair.
For the past several weeks Portland has been dealing with protesters who are supporting the "Black Lives Matter" movement, and Donald Trump, who has been on the lookout for an easy target, decided that Portland would be an ideal place to flex his authoritarian muscle. Approximately two weeks ago he sent in federal troops whose mission ostensibly was to "restore" order.
Trump's troops are on the streets of downtown Portland in camouflage fatigue uniforms and armed with assault weapons. They are not wearing name tags or any form of unit identification. It is unclear if they are active duty military, reservists, representatives of federal agencies, or members of contracted private militias, but they appear to be under the direct control of Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. Wolf, who seems to fancy himself as being some sort of military leader, has no military background and was recently described by a writer in Mother Jones magazine as a "former airport security bureaucrat who became a lobbyist." Since his promotion to his current acting position last November, Wolf has quickly become a Trump favorite.
Yesterday a clip played on social media showing a couple of these mysterious men in uniform taking a lone protester into custody and then placing him in the back of a minivan that was filled with other uniformed personnel - and driving away. The man was reportedly released at another location without charges.
The federal troops are working completely independent of local and state police.
Regardless of who these secret forces are - or what there exact mission is - the state of Oregon did not request their presence, and the state of Oregon does not want their presence. Members of the Oregon congressional delegation are calling for their immediate removal, as is Kate Brown, the governor of Oregon.
Last night Oregon's attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking a temporary restraining order that would bar the Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies from seizing and detaining Portland protesters without probable cause.
Rosenblum said:
"The federal administration has chosen Portland to use their scare tactics to stop our residents from protesting police brutality and from supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Every American should be repulsed when they see this happening. If this can happen here in Portland, it can happen anywhere."
Many in Oregon see the presence of federal troops as an unlawful incursion and a challenge to the state's right to do its own policing. Others are more cynical and suggest that it is an election ploy by Trump designed to create footage of his government being tough on protesters.
And still others see it as a sneak peek at what a second Trump term in office would look like.
Be afraid, America - be very afraid!
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