In Portland, feds are arresting BLM protesters and putting them into unmarked vans

Protests against systemic racism continue. In LA, it’s been weeks since officials have enforced curfews and used tear gas on crowds. In Portland, the unrest hasn’t slowed down, and now federal law enforcement has gotten involved. Protesters are reporting that officers dressed in camouflage are roaming the streets in unmarked vans and arresting people.

President Trump praised law enforcement for their work in Portland. In a roundtable on Monday, he said, “We’ve done a great job in Portland. Portland was totally out of control, and they went in, and I guess we have many people right now in jail. And we very much quelled it. And if it starts again, we’ll quell it again very easily. It’s not hard to do if you know what you’re doing.”

One of the protesters arrested was Mark Pettibone. He told freelance journalist Sergio Olmos that he wasn’t breaking any laws or provoking officers when he was arrested.

“One of the officers said, ‘No it’s okay, it’s okay,’ and then grabbed him and threw him in the van. Another officer grabbed his beanie and pulled it over his head so he couldn’t see,” Olmos says.

Pettibone was released later that night, and there’s no record of his arrest.