(Portland) Balloons at a demonstration, it's not very common. But the two Devon Fredericksen is holding on the streets of Portland, Oregon, is a sign of exasperation: together they make up the number 57, such as 57 days of claims.
Emily GILLESPIE
France Media Agency
"I think it's crazy that it's already been 30 days and that we are still pushing for more change, "she told AFP. "How many more days" will it take? she launches.
The largest city in Oregon, in the northwest of the country, has been the scene of protests against institutionalized racism and police violence for almost two months, since the death of black forty-something George Floyd under the knee of a white cop in Minneapolis.
Today, federal agents tasked by President Donald Trump with restoring "order" are deployed there, a controversial measure that has stirred up the anger of demonstrators and is criticized by local officials.
Thursday's demonstration, generally peaceful, ended, like many before it, with clashes between protesters and police in a cloud of tear gas.
The clashes started around midnight, even if the two parts were separated by a gate reinforced by barricades.
Protesters targeted the Federal Court, which became a target during rallies, throwing garbage and fireworks over the gate, sparking small fires.
Federal officers in fatigues threw tear gas and stun grenades, after declaring the gathering illegal.
At around 1 a.m. 30, they left the area behind the gate, advancing towards the demonstrators in the street.
PHOTO CAITLIN OCHS, REUTERS
Protesters targeted the Federal Court, which had become a target during rallies, throwing garbage and fireworks over the gate, causing small fires. Federal officers in fatigues threw tear gas and stun grenades, after declaring the gathering illegal.
"Atrocious" situation 89184577
The majority of the demonstrators started pounding the pavement at the end of May after the death of George Floyd to demand reforms and to hold the police to account. Today, while many still chant "Black Lives Matter", they also shout "Feds go home" - "Federal agents, come home".
"I never thought I would have to be on the streets of my city to do this," said one of them, Steve.
"I have the impression that this is the full-fledged military occupation of a free city," he adds.
Steve explains that he went out on Thursday both to protest the federal agents and because the death of George Floyd, he says, should scare everyone.
"Black people have always fought for equality [...]. But the fact that it's being recorded and broadcast, it's really starting to reach more people now, (the fact that) the situation is excruciating, "he says.
"I think it's great that the message is getting across, but it must have happened in the most tragic and terrifying way ever. Everyone should be terrified. "
By the beginning of July, the protests in Portland, as in the rest of the United States, had started to run out of steam.
But it was then that information emerged about federal agents in camouflage uniforms, accused of having summarily arrested demonstrators in the city before taking them away in unmarked vehicles.
Portland Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler was himself sprayed with tear gas on Wednesday night as he went to meet protesters.
He spoke of a "disproportionate reaction from federal agents," and even of "urban warfare."
Republican President Donald Trump, campaigning for his re-election, for his part announced that federal forces would be deployed in other cities of the country such as Chicago to respond to an outbreak of crime, causing an outcry in particular among Democratic officials.
On Thursday, an official investigation was opened by the Justice Department into the highly controversial action by federal police in Portland.
Teal Lindseth, one of the speakers during the protests, is delighted to see the movement continue.
"The first night, I remember thinking to myself: 'this is not going to continue, we can't be as big as Martin Luther King", "she explains.
But "we are getting big. Portland is in the process of being recognized. "