Planned Protest at ICE Agent’s Home in Portland
An anarchist blog has announced plans for a “destructive” rally at the residence of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Portland, Oregon, scheduled for Friday evening.
Protesters are expected to arrive, masked, at 6 p.m. to confront ICE, whether or not the demonstration remains “peaceful.” This information was shared in a Tuesday post on Rose City Counter Info, which claims to have revealed the agent’s identity and address. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized the blog for these actions.
In the past, DHS has criticized similar activities, such as urging Portland residents to use lasers against federal aircraft. The post on the blog encourages attendees to bring various items like noisemakers, signs, and candles, emphasizing that “masks are required.”
The post expresses a sense of urgency, stating, “It’s time to take the fight to the real people responsible for the kidnappings, disappearances, and shootings of our neighbors.” It further emphasizes that ICE agents are not anonymous and, in fact, many live in comfortable neighborhoods while carrying out what they term acts of terrorism.
Interestingly, the blog advises protesters to leave cell phones and cameras at home, cautioning against creating evidence that could be used in police investigations.
A section discussing the nature of the demonstrations suggests that they should be “loud, disruptive and fun” and recognizes that the organizers won’t attempt to control how others choose to protest. Instead, they stress the importance of protecting each other from perceived instigators of violence, particularly the police and the DHS.
While the FBI’s Portland office and DHS declined to comment, the blog seems to believe in the power of collective action, citing previous successful protests against ICE in various locations since the Trump administration began. They specifically refer to protests in Portland, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis as examples of effective activism.
As for the Friday rally, the blog has stated that it will be “on hold until the message is sent.”
