Protesters in Portland, Oregon, who have created their own ‘autonomous zone’ by erecting tents and rebuilding barricades are “criminals,” Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan said Thursday.
“These are people who plan, organize with premeditation to destroy federal property and harm federal agents and agents,” Morgan told “Fox & Friends.”
Morgan noted that Portland protesters are arriving with rocks, hammers and nails in plywood to intentionally cause damage.
“Those are criminals, those are not protesters,” said Morgan.
PORTLAND’S DESPERATION CONTINUES FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS WITH NO APPARENT END IN SIGHT
Protesters in Portland began setting up tents in a park near federal court early Wednesday morning, and closed the streets to create their own autonomous zone, compared to the organized Capitol Hill protest in Seattle.
Protesters began pitching tents in Lownsdale Square in downtown Portland across the street from the Pioneer Courthouse, one of the federal properties Homeland Security sought to protect by bringing federal officials into the city two weeks ago.
A camera at the Portland Standard Building showed protesters starting to set up tents Tuesday night in the same park where “Occupy Portland” was installed in 2011, KATU reported.
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Morgan said the Trump administration is supporting law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels.
“The Justice Department is going to be involved in this, DHS is going to be involved in this, and we are really taking a position across the board,” he said, adding: “We are going to do whatever it takes to do to protect men. and women of this country. “
