There are reports of unidentifiable federal agents running amuck in Portland, with protesters being arrested, beaten, and people snatched off the streets by agents in unmarked vehicles.
But despite the backlash over the violence, Donald Trump is threatening to send these agents into other cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Milwaukee.
However, One city prosecutor, District Attorney Larry Krasner of Philadelphia, is saying not in his city.
“My dad volunteered and served in World War II to fight fascism, like most of my uncles, so we would not have an American president brutalizing and kidnapping Americans for exercising their constitutional rights and trying to make America a better place, which is what patriots do,” Krasner said in a statement. “Anyone, including federal law enforcement, who unlawfully assaults and kidnaps people, will face criminal charges from my office.”
Krasner spoke to CityLab, saying, “it is not OK to fracture skulls with what they like to call non-lethal rubber bullets or tear gas canisters. It is not OK when there is no probable cause to jump out of a rental van and just requisition people off the street. That looks like a dictatorship. That looks like a kidnapping. That looks like a crime.”
Krasner made it clear that what is happening in Portland between the agents and the protestors will not be tolerated in Philadelphia. If it comes down to it, they will be prosecuting federal police. He explained that the charges can originate from the local police department or can from within the D.A.’s office.
“We’re not going to tolerate any kidnappings and assaults going on in Philadelphia streets. We’re not going to tolerate showing up under the guise of making things safer and causing violence.”
