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Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

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ACLU lawsuit accuses police of attacking Portland volunteer medics

Federal officers deploy tear gas in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday. Photo: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of volunteer medics alleging that local and federal law enforcement officials have been "targeting and attacking" them during protests in Portland, Oregon.

Details: The suit, filed against the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service and City of Portland, argues that attacks on medics violates the First and Fourth Amendments. The ACLU is seeking a court order prohibiting law enforcement from taking such action.

"Volunteer medics should be celebrated, not attacked or arrested."
— statement by Jann Carson, interim executive director of the ACLU of Oregon

The big picture: It's the latest lawsuit filed in connection with officers' response to the demonstrations in Portland.

  • The ACLU has also filed a suit against the City of Portland and the Trump administration on behalf of journalists and legal observers the group alleges were attacked by police while covering the protests. A motion to add federal agents to that order is pending before the court, with arguments scheduled for Thursday.
  • On Wednesday, a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who accused federal agents of unlawful tactics following reports that some in unmarked vehicles detained Portland protesters without explanation, per AP. The suit seeks a restraining order against such action.

The other side: The Trump administration and City of Portland did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.

  • However, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Tuesday federal agents "will not retreat" from Portland. "The smear attacks leveled against our officers is disgusting," he said.

Read the medics' complaint, via DocumentCloud:

Go deeper: In photos: Portland protests unrest amid presence of federal agents

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
Updated Oct 28, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Unrest in Philadelphia after fatal police shooting of Black man

Demonstrators rally on Tuesday near the location where Walter Wallace was killed by two police officers in Philadelphia. Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images

The Pennsylvania National Guard was mobilized Tuesday during a tense second night of protests in Philadelphia over the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace, a 27-year-old Black man.

Driving the news: Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (D) and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a joint statement a "full investigation" would be launched to answer questions that arose from video that captured part of Monday's incident.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Jonathan Swan, Alayna Treene
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

USAID chief tests positive for coronavirus

An Air Force cargo jet delivers USAID supplies to Russia earlier this year. Photo: Mikhail Metzel/TASS via Getty Images

The acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development informed senior staff Wednesday he has tested positive for coronavirus, two sources familiar with the call tell Axios.

Why it matters: John Barsa, who staffers say rarely wears a mask in their office, is the latest in a series of senior administration officials to contract the virus. His positive diagnosis comes amid broader turmoil at the agency following the election.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Bryan Walsh, author of Future
3 hours ago - Health

COVID-19 shows a bright future for vaccines

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Promising results from COVID-19 vaccine trials offer hope not just that the pandemic could be ended sooner than expected, but that medicine itself may have a powerful new weapon.

Why it matters: Vaccines are, in the words of one expert, "the single most life-saving innovation ever," but progress had slowed in recent years. New gene-based technology that sped the arrival of the COVID vaccine will boost the overall field, and could even extend to mass killers like cancer.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow

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