Call for Lasers on Federal Helicopters in Portland

An online anarchist platform has urged individuals in Portland, Oregon, to direct lasers at federal helicopters, raising serious concerns among law enforcement about the potential dangers for pilots.

According to a post on Rose City Counter Info, a left-leaning website based in Portland, participants are encouraged to disperse into the streets as part of a planned effort known as “laser tag.” This initiative coincides with expected federal responses to upcoming demonstrations near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The post declared that the objective is to “shut down” the helicopters, complicating safe flight and hindering law enforcement from effectively using laser technology to track those responsible.

The post reads, “All you need is a laser. Leave your house. They will know where the laser is coming from. Go to a park, field, or other public places, and at 9 o’clock, fire a beam at the helicopter. Wear a mask. Team up with your friends and have a laser party!”

The announcement went on to encourage participants to wear gloves and sanitize laser pointers to avoid leaving behind any fingerprints. It also provides advice on preventing DNA transfer onto objects.

Rose City Counter-Info has not responded to numerous inquiries. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had condemned similar activities in July, criticizing a website that aimed to expose the identities of ICE agents. The agency has vowed to take legal action against such endeavors.

Federal authorities have already prosecuted an individual accused of aiming a laser at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter just days before the anarchist group’s post appeared. In a criminal complaint, FBI agents noted that lasers can cause severe vision problems, which could lead to disastrous consequences during flights.

DHS did not reply to requests for comment, and the FBI’s Portland office sent back an automated response, citing an ongoing government shutdown.

In a related development, President Trump is advocating for the deployment of the National Guard to Portland, reacting to ongoing protests against ICE, which have resulted in nearly 150 arrests. Both the state of Oregon and the city of Portland are legally challenging this plan.

Additional strategies employed by protestors have included distracting the homeless and engaging confrontations with law enforcement at ICE sites. The post emphasized that demonstrators should not accept surveillance from federal helicopters any longer, asserting that “actions aimed at disrupting an adversary’s control can lead to more audacious measures.”