United States: A lawsuit filed against the administration of the President of the United States (USA), Donald Trump, argues that federal agents deployed in Portland, Oregon, violated the constitutional rights of participants in protests against racism and police brutality, Prensa Latina publishes.
According to the legal action, presented by the non-profit organization Protect Democracy on behalf of some citizens and two local groups, forces sent by the Executive fired tear gas, pepper spray, flash grenades and other less deadly ammunition at peaceful protesters.
The complaint, which accuses officers of unlawful arrests, use of excessive force and restricting freedom of expression, was issued after days of much criticism of Trump for his decision to send those officers to the city to stop the protests that followed the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of the police in late May.
According to the Government, the deployment of troops from the Department of Homeland Security was intended to protect federal buildings and monuments, but local authorities complained that these officers exacerbated tensions in the streets by arresting demonstrators without probable cause and moving them in cars without identify.
Despite the condemnations generated by the situation in Portland and the rejection expressed beforehand by officials from major cities, Trump announced on July 22 that he will send hundreds of feds to face an increase in violence in other places such as Albuquerque, Chicago and Kansas City.
The dispatch of such forces to help localities fight crime is not uncommon in the country, but the political nature of this measure, especially after what happened in Oregon, causes great concern and that the president emphasized his interest in taking that step in places where there are Democratic leaders.
Albuquerque, New Mexico officials said they had not applied for federal assistance and expressed fear of suffering the same fate as Portland.
“There is no place for Trump’s secret police in our city?, said Albuquerque Mayor Timothy Keller, who called the action a political stunt.