TRO against federal agents use of force has been GRANTED!

There was a hearing today where a judge ruled in favor of and granted a temporary restraining order against the feds in Portland, OR using chemical weapons and excessive force after multiple lawsuits were filed after this weekend, including from a march of over 5,000 people on Saturday where young children got teargassed, and Sunday night where over 500 people protested at the ICE facility and without warning the feds gassed a large portion of the city.

The TRO blocks federal officers from using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions “unless the specific target of such a weapon or device poses an imminent threat of physical harm to a law enforcement officer or other person.”

“In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case,” U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon wrote in a 22-page temporary restraining order, which you can read here: https://www.opb.org/pdf/Dickinson%20v_1770160054941.pdf

The ruling also blocks federal officers from firing munitions or using weapons directed “at the head, neck, or torso of any person, unless the officer is legally justified in using deadly force against that person.”

“The temporary restraining order goes into effect for 14 days and could be renewed. Simon has scheduled a hearing on the underlying lawsuit for March 2, where he’ll take testimony from witnesses. That evidence could form a basis for an injunction should the judge deem it necessary.”
- https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/03/judge-limits-federal-officer-use-of-force-portland-ice-protesters/

#Portland #pdx #chemicalweapons