Iran Press/ America: At least 20 deputies from the US Marshals Service have been injured, suffering cuts and concussions, over more than two months of guarding the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse — a focal point of violent protests which began after the May death of George Floyd in police custody, according to a recent report.
The “relentless” attacks have included demonstrators launching professional fireworks and mortar rounds stuffed with nails at the marshals — and the violence has taken a toll, said Russel Burger, the federal marshal for Oregon.
“They live in this community. They go to church here, all their friends and family are here. And so night after night to come under attack is very stressful for them,” Burger said in an interview with NBC News.
When the courthouse was boarded up and a fence built around the perimeter after the July 4 weekend, the marshals faced increasingly brutal attacks, said Burger, including one deputy who was attacked with a hammer. Three are still waiting to see if they have permanent eye damage from lasers pointed at them by protestors, according to the NBC report.
Protestors use portable radios and encrypted messages on cellphones to organize their efforts, which usually begin after midnight with up to 300 violent protestors who stay behind after peaceful protests come to an end. They regularly lay out hockey sticks embedded with nails under the tires of government vehicles, Burger said.
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