The Heavy-Handed Portland Police

August 8, 2024 - Portland police have shown outright antagonism toward protesters at recent events, including a Pride gathering. The reactivation of their Rapid Response Team (RRT), disbanded in 2021 for excessive force, has only exacerbated the situation. Equipped with new training and gear, Portland police are now inciting protests rather than managing them.

During the Pride event, police presence and actions were blatantly provocative, directly opposing what law enforcement should aim for. Their approach to crowd control has been ruthlessly heavy-handed. For instance, the forceful removal of protesters from a library, involving riot gear and aggressive tactics, is stark evidence of their deliberate antagonism.

Portland Police’s methods are not about maintaining order; they are designed to intimidate and suppress dissent. Their use of tear gas and impact munitions against largely nonviolent demonstrations is a clear statement: they are more focused on confrontation than on facilitating peaceful protest

References:

[Police clear protesters from Portland State University library - OPB]

( https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/02/portland-state-war-protest-police-clear-library/ )

[50 days of protest in Portland. A violent police response. This is how we got here. - OPB]

( https://www.opb.org/news/article/police-violence-portland-protest-federal-officers/ )

[For some, questions persist around Portland’s revived crowd-control unit - OPB]

( https://www.opb.org/article/2024/06/24/questions-persist-portland-crowd-control-unit/ )