‘Wall of Moms’ sues federal agencies over Portland protest violence

The lawsuit, filed Monday by the Wall of Moms, Don’t Shoot Portland, and several others, alleges that federal agents have used violence to “end peaceful and constitutionally protected protests” and that its mere presence as a federal security force Domestic is unconstitutional.

CNN has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, to which the Federal Protection Service belongs, and the US Marshals Service for a response.

Wall of Moms, Don’t Shoot Portland, and other protesters have been subjected to tear gas, illegal arrests without probable cause, and shootings with rubber bullets and bean bags at close range by DHS agents wearing uniforms and military clothing, leading to Repeatedly resulting in injuries, the lawsuit said. Tear gas has caused some vomiting and he cannot eat or sleep, according to the lawsuit.

“They were forced to speak and meet for fear of not only bodily harm, but the possibility of a sudden arrest without probable cause,” the lawsuit said.

Portland Mayor Demands ‘Ceasefire’

Videos have appeared showing authorities without identification badges on unmarked vehicles arresting protesters in Portland. These incidents have prompted the United States Attorney to request an investigation into the matter.

Federal participation in the protest response has not been well received by local leaders.

In a Monday night tweet, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called for an immediate meeting with DHS leadership “to discuss a ceasefire and the elimination of intensified federal forces.”

Last week, a unanimous Portland city council voted to end cooperation between the Portland Police Office and federal agencies.

Wheeler has come under intense scrutiny by Trump and acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf after weeks of protests in his city.

For several nights, the largely peaceful protests demanding racial justice and an end to the influx of federal resources into the city have turned violent as a small subgroup of protesters has set fire to and launched fireworks in the federal court of the city ​​center. The problem has prompted Portland city officials and members of the Trump administration to engage in a public war of words on who is to blame for the protesters’ actions.

Wheeler was asked if he is in contact with the acting DHS secretary on Wednesday.

“I have no reason to contact him,” Wheeler said at the time. “My demands are clear. I want them to leave.”

But Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told Fox News that he blames city leadership for fostering an environment that allows criminals to remain unaffected.

“They come armed with rocks, bottles, baseball bats, power tools, commercial grade fireworks, provoking that violence and attacking their violence in federal courts and federal law enforcement officers,” Wolf said of Portland.

Federal officials make 22 arrests since Thursday

The United States Attorney’s Office says officers protecting the federal court in Portland “have been threatened and assaulted by protesters at night while performing their duties.”

Crowds of several hundred people gathered outside federal court on Sunday and “spent hours screaming, singing, hitting the fence and throwing objects at it,” according to a statement released by the Portland Police Office on Monday morning.

Federal officials have arrested 22 people in Portland since Thursday night, according to a Justice Department news release.

Most of the people arrested have been accused of assaulting a federal officer, but one suspect is accused of illegal operation of a drone. Another is accused of “harassing federal employees” for allegedly molesting members of the Federal Protection Service, which involves investigating and publicly disclosing an individual’s private information.

Many protesters and local leaders have said that the presence of federal forces in the city has increased tensions between protesters and law enforcement.