On Monday, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced that 22 people in Portland were facing federal charges in connection to protests that took place on July 23-27, 2020. This announcement comes just days after Attorney General William Barr said that the unrest in Portland is “an assault on the Government of the United States.”
This is the #Portland Right Now! Thousands sing #BlackLivesMatter in the Streets of Portland on the 58th day of protest
An army of protesters marching for peace & justice, marching against fascism & police violence, marching as one for a better future. It’s absolutely amazing?? pic.twitter.com/eNNVkmQT7p
— Terrence Daniels (Captain ? Planet) (@Terrence_STR) July 25, 2020
The majority of those charged were accused of assaulting federal officers or “failing to obey lawful orders.” A press release from Williams’s office said that federal officers “have been objected to nightly threats and assaults from demonstrators while performing their duties.”
Protests in Portland, Oregon have continued to gain steam throughout the city since the death of George Floyd in late May. As the protests have grown in size, there has been an increase federal law enforcement throughout the city. In recent weeks, demonstrators have stated that law enforcement has threatened them, assaulted them and thrown projectiles such as tear gas at them.
