In light of a recent federal court decision lifting restrictions on “less-lethal” crowd control measures, the question on many minds Friday evening outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility was whether the tear gas would come out.
The short answer is no, although Portland Police arrested five near the South Waterfront facility and one officer injured by a thrown rock was taken to a hospital. Despite some tension and minor injuries, May Day was a far cry from nights like Jan. 31 when federal officers gassed a far larger crowd, including children and seniors.
On a day of protest around the state, a location that’s become a focal point of rage at the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign saw a familiar scene play out. Gas masks. Inflatables. Chants of “Shame on you!” Bare butts directed at rooftop feds with binoculars…