President of the house Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi, Blumenaur condemns Trump’s “egregious abuse of power” against Oregon Graham protesters over Lewis’ death: “He lived a consistent life” Trump says he is “saddened” to learn of John Lewis’s death MORE (D-Calif.) And Rep. Earl Blumenaur (D-Ore.) Released a joint statement Saturday night condemning what they said was “egregious abuse of power” after the Trump administration deployed federal officials in Portland in amid protests.
“As our nation mourns the loss of our colleague and beloved civil rights leader John Lewis
John LewisClyburn Echoes Calls To Rename Pettus Pelosi Bridge, Blumenaur Condemns Trump’s “Atrocious Abuses Of Power” Against Oregon Protesters When Big Trees Fall: Remembering John Lewis MOREWe again recall the immense power of peaceful protest in the fight against racial injustice and police brutality, “said the congressional duo.
“Yet again and again, the Trump Administration shows its disrespect for the dignity and First Amendment rights of all Americans.”
Lewis, the former Georgia representative, died Friday at the age of 80. A civil rights legend and voter rights advocate, Lewis was the youngest keynote speaker on the march in Washington and led activists across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. in “Bloody Sunday”.
Protests have been widespread across the country following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May.
While protests have subsided in some cities, protests have still escalated in Portland, dominating the city center for more than a month. Demonstrations have, at times, caused damage to federal buildings, leading to Chad Wolf – Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security – to send federal officials to Rose City in the past few weeks.
Oregon lawmakers have been against federal intervention.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) tweeted Thursday that he made it clear to Wolf that “we don’t need or want” assistance from federal officials.
“I told Acting Secretary Wolf that the federal government should remove all federal officials from our streets,” Governor Kate Brown (D) also tweeted Thursday. “Her response showed me that she is on a mission to provoke confrontations for political ends. She is putting both Oregon residents and local law enforcement officers at risk.”
Reports Friday of federal officials, dressed in unmarked military uniforms and driving unmarked vans, picking up and arresting protesters with more red flags and strongly attracted to the state’s congressional delegation.
Blumenauer, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D) and Ron Wyden (D) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D) requested Friday that DHS thoroughly review the events.
“DHS and DOJ are involved in acts that are horrible and scandalous in our constitutionally democratic republic,” said Merkley.
“First, they are deploying paramilitary forces without any identification that indicates who they are or who they work for. Secondly, these agents are taking people off the street without underlying justification. Both acts are profound offenses against Americans, “he said.
In their statement on Saturday, Pelosi and Blumenauer said the democratically controlled Chamber would not tolerate the actions of the Trump administration.
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