Racial justice protesters and many who stormed the U.S. Capitol are being charged with civil disorder, under the 1968 Civil Obedience Act. Some argue that the law is unconstitutional.
After months of street protests, President Trump described New York City, Portland and Seattle as lawless places and threatened to withhold federal aid. City officials say the law is on their side.
"Donald Trump has made my job a hell of a lot harder since he started talking about Portland," says Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese. The president claimed that the "Portland sheriff" supports him.
Police said a crowd grew to nearly 300 people at one point, and skirmishes broke out between protesters and law enforcement. Thirteen people were arrested.
"We need something different and we need it now," Mayor Ted Wheeler says as he orders his city's police to halt the use of CS gas, one of the most common forms of tear gas.
"We're out here and we need to be, but I'm tired and I'm on edge," a left-wing demonstrator said on Sunday evening. "I'm also terrified," she added, noting rising tensions between the opposing groups.
Oregon was founded on white supremacist principles. But it also has a long history of anti-racist protests, says Lisa Bates, who teaches urban studies at Portland State University.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said the federal agents sent to Portland acted as "an occupying force & brought violence." Brown says federal officers will leave starting Thursday.
Federal agents fired tear gas after hundreds gathered for the 60th day of demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd. Police said they found Molotov cocktails and loaded rifle magazines.
State and local leaders have repeatedly called for federal agents to leave the city. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says the officers are not about public safety but "political theater."
Demonstrations continued in Portland, Ore., Saturday night over police brutality and racism. State and local officials criticized Trump's use of federal agents to try to quell the protests.
