Federal agents fired tear gas canisters at Black Lives Matter demonstrators in downtown Portland early Saturday (July 26) in a 58th straight day of protests, amid growing scrutiny over the use of border patrol and other federal officers in the city.

Security forces have frequently tear-gassed and clubbed demonstrators during the unrest. Protests continue amid public anger over the deployment of federal border patrol officers to Portland against the wishes of local officials.

Demonstrators and local officials see the deployment of the agents in Portland as a ploy by Trump to drum up a law and order campaign as he faces an uphill re-election battle.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, has called the intervention an abuse of federal power and said it was escalating the violence.

Just people playing trumpets and drums. And lots of standing around, and chanting #BlackLivesMatter #PDXprotests #PortlandProtests pic.twitter.com/fljS2HoiYE

— Pirates Win. (@lorenajw_x) July 27, 2020

🚨 #Portland#protests2020 #Riots2020 #USARIOTS #USAProtests #USARevolts #BlackLivesMatter #PortlandProtests #PortlandRiots #portlandpolice #portlandpd #PortlandOR #Oregon #Antifa #BreakingNews #PDXprotests #pdx911 pic.twitter.com/5ky6hDa0cB

— ʙɪɢ ᴡɪʟʟ🍁😷 (@WillontheRadio) July 27, 2020

The federal officers came back again using impact munitions, gas and stun grenades. This confrontation was again without any clear prompting actions from the crowd. #portland #PortlandProtest #portlandoregon #oregon #portlandprotests #PortlandOR #oregon #pdx #pdxprotest pic.twitter.com/XyxmcxdTYV

— Clypian (@Clypian) July 27, 2020

Another response by feds. They started firing rubber bullets and I caught one in the back of my hand. I was sitting across the street from it all. pic.twitter.com/mOlSvt7CVQ

— Cory Elia (@TheRealCoryElia) July 27, 2020

(Source: Reuters)