What's happening in Portland shows Trump is ignoring the Constitution -- and attacking America

[Zorro]

“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech … or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Something terrible, something dangerous — and, yes, something unconstitutional — is happening in Portland, Ore. It must be stopped.

“Federal law enforcement officers have been using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters since at least July 14,” reports Oregon Public Broadcasting. “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 report continues: “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.”

Of course, authorities — and we’ll get to the matter of what authorities in a bit — have the power to prevent violence. But that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening in Portland, where nightly protests have been taking place since early June. Law enforcement agents aren’t targeting protesters who engaged in violence; they appear to be sweeping up random people who have exercised their rights under the First Amendment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/17/whats-happening-portland-shows-trump-is-ignoring-constitution-attacking-america/

[Iliyah]

1. Well t-rump has done nothing about the bounties on American Soldiers . .

nothing about COVID-19 deaths, It gives me pause that he doesn't care about American life.

[RKP5637]

2. It's becoming clear Putin is coaching tRump on how to "seize" the US with the often lackadaisical

citizenry.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Are these people being reported missing?

Are they being released later? Are they at the jails? Are they being prosecuted? What exactly is happening here?

[stillcool]

4. "sweeping up random people"

sounds like Afghanistan after 9/11.

[sop]

5. Walking while black wasn't enough, now it's walking while wearing black.

Said a man who was arrested by Trump's thugs, “I just happened to be wearing black on a sidewalk in downtown Portland at the time, and that apparently is grounds for detaining me.”

[packman]

6. Just saw a video of the "enforcement" officers

Scary- they were moving some civilian medics from a scene. They weren't identifiable except as far as I could determine and looked like dressed-up militia men pushing people around.

This needs to be stopped.

https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/hpro7v/feds_in_portland_beat_medics_trying_to_help/