PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici have joined with several other state representatives in announcing a plan to block federal law enforcement from intervening in protests across the United States.
The plan is in response to the Trump administration's continued occupation of Portland to protect federal facilities, according to a spokesperson for Blumenauer.
"In practice, this has resulted in gross abuses of power toward protestors, including the nightly use of munitions and tear gas," the spokesperson said. "Unidentifiable federal forces in unmarked vehicles have also grabbed protesters off the street in Portland."
The lawmakers on Thursday filed three amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security; Department of Defense; and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bills.
The appropriations bills would defund the ability of DHS, DOJ, and DOD to use the pretext of protecting federal property to prevent gatherings to demonstrate, the spokesperson said.
While these amendments would not interfere with the authority of the Federal Protective Service to secure federal property, they would ensure that no taxpayer resources can be used to police protestors, unless explicitly requested by local authorities, the spokesperson said.
“We will not let Trump or his administration get away with militarizing our streets,” Bonamici said. “He is using camo-clad federal officers without identification badges to terrorize protestors, violate First Amendment rights, and dramatically escalate tensions in Portland. We will use every tool we have to make sure these officers are removed from Portland, and we will work to prevent him or any other overbearing executive from trying this again here or in other cities.”
Copies of the amendments filed Thursday by the lawmakers can be found here for DHS, here for DOD, and here for CJS.
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(12) comments
Wow how did Freedom of speech become the right to protest and riot. The freedom to peaceably to assemble does not give the right to block traffic and clog up the downtown to others cannot get to work of shop.Now you have violated others Constitutional rights.
Perhaps if the Democrat leaders would denounce the NIGHTLY VIOLENCE, DESTRUCTION and VANDALISM, then the Federal Government would not be required to step in and protect the innocent Citizens and stop the Destruction of what once was a nice city. Well it was nice before decades of liberalism
Cancel Earl! Last I checked he spends most of his time in NY and DC. How is he still representing Oregon? What a scam. And if the current cancel culture is real how come the Democrat party has not been canceled yet? With their history of slavery and segregation how is the Democrat party still around. Cancel them ASAP!
Does anyone even care what Earl says, anymore? What does he do in Congress, anyway? I wasn't even sure he was showing up back there, except to collect his check. The only time you hear from him is when he's bashing Trump.
How truthful !! Actually when it gets right down to it, that goes for the rest of the Democrats in Congress also !! I think we could do with out any of them. Probably could take 50 % of the Republicans and send them home too !!
This just proves that there are more than three stooges.
Steve O, I couldn't agree more!! Feds came in because PDX officials and Mayor hasn't done squat to stop the destruction! Th iui s isn't protesting! Vandalism and looting has nothing to do with the BLM movement!
LOL, democrat party officials supporting lawless anarchists.
Blumenauer and Bonnamicci represent only a thin slice of Oregon, and of Portland. Sadly, it is a slice of the even smaller subset of the People who set up and VOTE! The Leftism of the town/state discourages many people who say "What's the use?" as the Democrat Machine allows nobody to run without being vetted by Leftist special interests and without being attacked for every thing, even the most irrelevant, the Left can twist into even an artificial issue or personal attack. I love this country, the people and the land, but the vicious nature of the Left against the people who just want to be left alone is truly disheartening.
These people both need to go along with Wyden and Barkley. Anyone in their right mind would not support the destruction of Portland. If Oregon continues to have these sort of people in government along with the United States this country is going to go down the toilet.
For many years I've said that the best thing for Oregon was if Portland and it's liberals were put out of action. I didn't think they'd do it to themselves. Looks like the place is committing suicide.
It isn't suicide but it is an implosion
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