#StopPACT: Is Trump sending more troops to quell protests after Portland? Internet says 'kidnappings' must stop
Activists have been protesting against police brutality and racism, since African-American man George Floyd died in police custody on May 25. On July 16, videos and photos showing federal agents in camouflage and body armor forcing protesters from the streets of Portland into unmarked vehicles went viral. The word 'Fascism' became a nationwide trend on Twitter, with many politicians and commentators accusing President Donald Trump of deploying "a secret police force".
On July 17, the trend #PortlandKidnappings emerged, as more and more people caught on to what was actually happening. Later that night, protesters were gathered around the Justice Center in the city and marching across the street chanting slogans. Now #StopPact has become the latest trend in this respect, as it has come to attention that the DHS is allegedly deploying federal agents to every city across the country.
According to a report by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) that comprised detailed accounts from witnesses, federal law enforcement officers have been detaining demonstrators since July 14 without a relevant explanation. The past week has seen a violent escalation between protesters and federal agents, who have fired tear gas and less-lethal munition at the crowds. Federal agents have charged at least 13 people with crimes related to the protests so far, as per the broadcaster. A video checked by the OBP shows Mark Pettibone, a Portland resident and protester, describing how he was "basically tossed" into an unmarked van with armed people in body armor, on July 15. He explained that he was taken to a holding cell in a federal courthouse, where they read him his arrest rights. Later, he was released without any citation or arrest record after refusing to answer questions.
While the speculation around the 'lawless' nature of the arrests was high, a report by The Nation magazine citing an internal memo from US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the Protecting American Communities Task Force (PACT) is under the agency's authority. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Marshals Service deployed the federal agents to Portland, Oregon, to suppress the ongoing protests in the city, earlier this month.
"DHS is answering the president’s call to use our law enforcement personnel across the country to protect our historic landmarks," said DHS secretary Chad Wolf in a statement on July 1. "We won’t stand idly by while violent anarchists and rioters seek not only to vandalize and destroy the symbols of our nation but to disrupt law and order and sow chaos in our communities." PACT was created by the DHS in June, in response to Trump signing an executive order to protect monuments, memorials and statues after protesters attempted to take down Andrew Jackson's statue from the park across the White House on June 26. Under the executive order, anyone who causes damage to any historical monument amid the protests would be penalized.
Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, has accused the deployed federal agents of "blatant abuse of power". Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General, said she would be filing a lawsuit in federal court, asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order against four federal agencies: the DHS, The US Marshals Service, the CBP and the Federal Protective Service which guards federal buildings. In addition, she announced that the Oregon Department of Justice and the Multnomah County district attorney would open a criminal investigation the injury of Donavan Labella, who was shot by a US Marshals Service officer's munition in the face, on July 11. "The federal administration has chosen Portland to use their scare tactics to stop our residents from protesting police brutality and from supporting the Black Lives Matter movement," said Rosenblum. "Every American should be repulsed when they see this happening. If this can happen here in Portland, it can happen anywhere."
Twitter users have been following the happenings in Portland regularly since the videos of the CBP officers first emerged on the social media platform. They have been diligent in expressing their anger and opinions about the same, and have repeatedly slammed the federal law enforcement officers as well as the president and accused them of "kidnapping" people off the streets.
"If you’re wondering why #StopPACT is trending it’s because DHS has confirmed they’re planning to send these guys to all of our cities. These feds who toss people in vans and refuse to identify themselves are collectively known as PACT. And they must be stopped," a peeved user tweeted. "Trump is literally imposing government force to kidnap people off the streets. People are being taken because they don’t agree with him. We are under attack by our own government and it’s going nationwide!!" said another user. "THE. PORTLAND. KIDNAPPINGS. ARE. GOING. NATIONWIDE. DO NOT IGNORE THIS. #StopPACT NOW," said comedian, Elijah Daniel.
"#StopPACT — we absolutely cannot let this go national. This is lawless, desperate, psychopathic behavior by the state that will not go unanswered," singer Ricky Montgomery tweeted. "Trump sending feds into Portland for 'violent anarchist graffiti' means he’ll send them into any of our cities, for whatever he wants. #StopPACT," a user concurred. There have been numerous comparisons drawn between the Nazis and the federal agents, including this tweet that says, "Now is a great time to remember how the Nazis consolidated power. They used property damage to justify the suspension of civil liberties and mass arrests. This is fascism at its best. History repeats and we have not learned. We must fight back harder. #StopPACT."