How Portland fights Trump’s protests, threat from the National Guard

The sound of protest in front of her window awakens Brena Hamar in the middle of the night.

The tear sneaks into her apartment complex, the landing of Gray, which is opposite immigration and a customs building (ICE) in the South Coast neighborhood on the shore of Portland.

For months, the area has become a place of night clashes between federal agents and black -dressed protesters who are against the arrests of immigration.

“It’s like a war zone,” says the 57 -year -old dn Hamar for her street. Several other residents have talked to BBC News about the excitement that focuses on only one city block, as tension has lowered and put the city in the national spotlight.

“There are times when I had to have a gas mask inside my own home,” she says, demonstrating how she is wearing her mask to sleep now.

President Donald Trump says he wants to send to the National Guard to protect officers and federal buildings, turning Portland into the last case of a Trump test to deploy troops into places – mainly cities ruled by democracy – which he believes are struck by crime.

Portland is burning on the ground and is struck by “rebels everywhere,” he says.

But Federal Judge disagrees and Trump’s plans temporarily For Portland, saying that the president seems to have “exceeded his constitutional authority.”

Trump’s comments were also widely curled up like a hyperbole of 635,000 residents of the city.

But for those who live in this apartment complex, there is a daily battle on their threshold, although they do not agree who is to blame for the violence.

Some residents of the building blame Antif. In short, the anti -fascist, Antifa is a decentralized, left movement that opposes the extreme right causes and is defined in a home terrorist group of Trump.

Gray’s neighbors, who are sympathetic to the more extreme protesters, allow them to enter the building, leading to confrontations in the corridors, residents say.

And some who went out at night have been attacked or threatened, according to footage, d -hamar, filmed and showed to the BBC News. Her shots showed shots and a resident struck in the face of a protester.

Mayor Keith Wilson accuses federal agents of incitement to the crowd.

Wilson has called for an investigation of action taken by ice agents, including the use of pepper spray and ammunition for impact.

“This is an aggressive approach that is trying to ignite the situation that was otherwise peaceful,” Wilson said on Sunday after another night of tear gas and violent arrests.

Whoever is guilty has already changed the community.

The Cottonus School, adjacent to the Ice building, moved in August after the ammunition continued to be located on the playground, according to school staff.

During the BBC daily visit, a resident is seen to carry his two domestic rats and screaming insults to ice agents published outside the federal building.

“Go back to your pen, pig!” He called the man when motorcyclists carrying flannels stopped watching the scene.

A little gathering of protesters grinding outside the building, without city officers. A man dressed as a chicken who has been present outside the facility for the past few weeks has been waving cars.

Gray Cindy Colgrove Gray resident, 63 -year -old, says it was “115 days hell” as protests against Trump intensified outside the ice facility in June.

“I only go out during the day,” says G -Ja Kolgrove as he was walking his neighbor’s dog near a small group of peace protesters.

“You see that all black people are not here. They come with the night. During the day, these are all these little old senior people who think they change the world before they move from this earth.”

D -Ja Kolgrove, who says she was attacked on the street while talking in support of the police, digging through the basket of her walker to show the weapons she now carries – a box of bear mace and a stunning gun.

The owner of the dogs May Tai Boyd, 44 years old, tells G -Ja Kolgrove that he does not agree that their building is “abandoned” by local urban officers.

“I’m up to date with politics. So I feel a little different,” says G -N Boed, who has lived in the building for 13 years.

The US Air Force veteran says Trump’s plan to send troops is a gross violation of the US Constitution.

“I don’t understand why law enforcement authorities can’t handle it. Why should you send the troops – fighting trained and ready?”

In other parts of the famous liberal Rose City, life continues as usual. On Sunday, more than 12,000 people participated in the Portland Marathon, fleeing the ice facility without incidents.

The only presence of the National Guard, watched by the BBC, was from the recruiter of the final, manized a stand and asks runners if they wanted to enroll.

Most Portland residents accuse Trump for excitement. In 2020, in his first term, Trump was also accused of inflammation of protests when he sent to the troops of the National Guard in the areas of the center, as thousands demonstrated against police violence.

In the genetrated area of ​​the arts in Alberta, residents called Trump’s claims about Portland funny and praised the city for his culture and friendly vibrations.

A grocery worker noted that the city has a long history of being a villain from Republicans like Trump, including George H. Bush, who said Portland as “Little Beirut”.

Nick, who wanted to be identified only by his name, said he was disgusted with immigration arrests that took place in the city by masked federal agents.

“Portland has the right to defend its neighbors as well,” he said.

Back when landing Gray, there is a cleaning operation, as industrial air scruples are placed in the complex. Residents say that harmful gases to control the riots released by federal agents travel through the ventilation of the building.

“When it comes to the corridor, he transferred exactly through,” says G -ja Hamar, who went to the hospital twice because of the way the gas “feels like the squeeze of your heart.”

HEPA 700 machines have roared noisily and are accompanied by signs explaining how they “kill tear gas and other chemicals from the air.”

There are also white sticky pads on each entrance, placed as door mats. They are intended to collect the chemicals of the powdery tear gas, to prevent irritants from being traced to the building on the soles of their shoes as dust.

Da Hamar, a native of Portland, says he disagrees with every policies of President Donald Trump, including his approach to the implementation of immigration. But she strongly believes in Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to Portland to support federal agents.

“This is one thing I support when Trump is concerned,” she says, to prepare for another night for sirens and gas.

“Because the city fails us and I don’t want to feel like a collateral of damage. And my rights matter too.”