US federal troops fire tear gas on peaceful protesters in Portland

Young journalists club

News ID: 47098
Publish Date: 10:13 - 26 July 2020
Sunday, 26 July 2020_US federal troops have used tear gas and flash bang grenades against Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, on the 57th consecutive day of unrest in the city.

US federal troops fire tear gas on peaceful protesters in PortlandSecurity forces beat the demonstrators with nightsticks and used tear gas and rubber bullets to drive them back on Saturday night, according to reports.  

The UN human rights office has already called on US police and security forces in Portland and other cities not to use disproportionate force or unlawful detention against protesters.

Protests in Portland were sparked over the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in the city of Minneapolis nearly two months ago.

Protesters voiced anger over the deployment of federal agents to crack down on the rallies. The US Justice Department said it was investigating the use of force by the troops.

They chanted slogans against federal agents that have been deployed to the city by the US administration to quell protests triggered by the brutal murder of Floyd in police custody in May.

The Mayor of Portland also opposed the presence of the agents in the city, saying it was escalating the crisis.

Protesters complained of the federal agents' presence in the city and voiced their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, AFP reported.

"I don't like what's happening down here, what Trump is doing," said Mike Shikany, a 55-year-old aerospace engineer,

Shikany added he did not "want to get anywhere near the little green men," meaning the federal troops.

Jean Mullen, 74, said that without pressure nothing would change in the United States.

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