Seattle Mayor Says Federal Agents Are Leaving the City

Federal agents who had been deployed to Seattle last week to protect federal buildings from early protests have left the city, Mayor Jenny Durkan (D) said Tuesday night.

“[The Department of Homeland Security] He notified me that the federal forces deployed to Seattle demobilized and left, “Durkan tweeted.” The president’s actions to attack Democratic cities with federal forces are chilling and increased violence in Portland, Seattle and other cities, exactly what the president intended. “

Surveillance decisions in Seattle should be made by Chief @CarmenBest, not by @realDonaldTrump. That’s why federal law enforcement officials as well as former Republican and Democratic chiefs of @DHSgov are raising alarms.

– Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) July 28, 2020

The mayor added that Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best is in charge of the city police, not President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden hits Trump’s ‘law and order’ message: he’s trying to ‘scare the devil’ out of people Pelosi hits Barr after testimony: ‘It was like a blot’ and Trump Schumer’s ‘henchman’: Trump should want COVID-19 deal to aid Republican election opportunities MORE. Durkan also denounced continued federal occupation in Portland, Oregon.

The rhetoric surrounding Black Lives Matter’s national protests, which were catalyzed by George Floyd’s police murder in Minneapolis in late May, is decidedly divided among the country’s political parties.

Democratic lawmakers like Durkan have denounced the violence that has occurred in the protests, while acknowledging the legitimacy of the reason behind the fierce protests: police brutality and systemic racism in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance toward protesters. Trump, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad WolfChad WolfACLU urges court to detain federal agents in Portland in contempt of Trump to review DACA, allow headlines to extend for one year Former DHS spokesman rips off presence of federal agents in Portland MORE and attorney general William BarrBill BarrPelosi beats Barr after testimony: “It was like a drop” and “henchman” for Trump lawmakers, public dismissal of John Lewis Democrats Barr blister during tense audience MORE all have labeled the protesters as protesters and anarchists.

That said, The Associated Press reports that the White House is in talks to withdraw Portland federal troops who have been in the city since late June to protect the federal court that has been damaged by the protests.