PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal law enforcement officers’ actions at protests in Oregon’s largest city, conducted without local authorities’ consent, are raising the prospect of a constitutional crisis — one that could escalate as weeks of demonstrations find renewed focus amid clashes with camouflaged, unidentified agents outside Portland’s U.S. courthouse.
A protester gestures in front of federal police personnel in Portland, Ore., as protests continue across the United States. (AFP )
A demonstrator shouts slogans using a bullhorn next to a group of military veterans during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
Federal officers advance on protesters during a Black Lives Matter demonstration at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
Demonstrators use leaf blowers to try to blow back tear gas launched by federal officers during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
Demonstrators sit and kneel as tear gas fills the air during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
A demonstrator plays a trumpet from atop a steel fence during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
A demonstrator speaks to a crowd from the bed of a pickup truck during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
A demonstrator argues with a federal officer during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)
Protestors carry umbrellas as they gather at the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (AFP)
Federal officers walk through tear gas while dispersing a crowd of about 1,000 people during a protest at Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
A protester escapes a federal officer during an arrest attempt in front of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Hundreds of protesters hold their phones aloft on Monday in Portland, Ore. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A federal officer pepper-sprays a protester in front of the federal courthouse in Portland, Ore., on Monday. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Portland demonstrators on Monday. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Federal agents use crowd-control munitions to disperse protesters on Sunday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
Protesters flee through tear gas. ( Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Federal officers on the streets of Portland on Tuesday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A naked woman confronts federal officers in Portland on Friday. (Dave Killen / Oregonian)
Police walk through fire and smoke in Portland. (Dave Killen / Oregonian)
A protester walks past a line of federal officers on Tuesday. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Tear gas in Portland. (Dave Killen / Oregonian )
Police respond to protesters. (Dave Killen / Oregonian )
A police officer is silhouetted near a burning car. (Mark Graves / Oregonian)
Outside the federal courthouse in Portland on Monday. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
A federal officer points to a protester while clearing the street in front of the federal courthouse. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Federal agents try to disperse protesters. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
Protesters outside a police station in Portland. (Sean Meagher / Oregonian )
Federal officers and a protester carrying an American flag face off. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Federal agents and tear gas. (Dave Killen / Oregonian)
A protester waves an American flag. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
Federal officers stand guard. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images)
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