Many demonstrators are peaceful, but smaller numbers have thrown fireworks, flares and rocks at federal agents, used lasers to blind them and sprayed graffiti across the downtown Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
The deployment appeared to have the opposite effect, reinvigorating demonstrations with a new focus: getting rid of the federal presence.
Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core, he said.
Wednesday's announcement was an abrupt about-face from just two days earlier, when the U.S. government said it might send more federal agents to Portland.
Oregon's governor cautioned Wednesday that the lower visibility of the federal agents and their ultimate departure won't immediately resolve the conflict.