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Merkley: Federal presence at protests making 'situation worse'

July 16, 2020

Merkley co-signed a letter with Sen. Ron Wyden and Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici after Donavan La Bella, 26, was shot in the head by federal officers with a less-lethal rubber bullet during a protest on Saturday, July 11. LaBella underwent facial reconstructive surgery after he suffered a skull fracture.

Merkley said he had just concluded a call with Derrick Driscoll, the acting deputy director of the U.S. Marshals Service — part of the Department of Justice — and said he came away "completely infuriated."

"I am very concerned that I have seen these pictures (of federal officers) with no ID who are on the streets with camouflage and military-style equipment," he said. "Who are they? Were those U.S. marshals? What organization were they from? How many of them were on the street? Do their protocols allow them to shoot peaceful protesters with rubber bullets? I could get no answers.

Issues:Civil Rights