US government to PAY Portland Antifa, BLM rioters of 2020 over ‘injuries’, non-lethal force

The lawsuit alleged that federal agents, sent to Portland by the Trump administration, had “beaten, shot, and abducted” protesters, journalists, and medics. It argued that the force used by law enforcement violated the constitutional rights of individuals to peacefully protest.

In a statement, the ACLU of Oregon criticized the tactics employed by federal officers, particularly the use of tools like tear gas and pepper spray. The organization referred to these as “chemical weapons” that are “banned in international warfare because of their severe and indiscriminate impact on human life and health.”

The events stemmed from protests and riots in 2020 during Donald Trump’s first term as president. Following civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump authorized the deployment of hundreds of federal agents, including Border Patrol officers, to Portland under the operation “Diligent Valor.” The law enforcement response, which included the use of rubber bullets, was intended to quell rioting in the city.

The settlement agreement involves compensation for injuries sustained during the protests, though the specific amounts were not disclosed. The plaintiffs included military veterans, a college professor, and several Black Lives Matter activists, according to the Associated Press.

“We are proud to have represented our courageous clients,” said ACLU Legal Director Kelly Simon in a news release. “They suffered serious injuries because of federal law enforcement’s unlawful, aggressive actions, and it is just and fair that they are being compensated.”