A peaceful anti-ICE demonstration in Portland, Oregon, turned violent late Wednesday night when a U.S. military veteran was tackled from behind by a Department of Homeland Security agent in full tactical gear, a sudden assault that left bystanders shocked and calling for accountability.
The incident occurred on August 13, 2025, at approximately 10:20 p.m., outside the ICE facility at 4310 S. Macadam Avenue. According to eyewitness reports and footage circulating online, the veteran had been standing on a public sidewalk, not blocking any entrances, when an agent charged from behind, slammed him to the ground, and pinned him while tear gas filled the air. Three DHS agents restrained him for nearly two minutes as gas canisters continued to billow.
In a formal complaint to Portland city officials, one witness described the act as โa clear example of unreasonable safety threats to the public, residents of the neighborhood, the environment, and public Right Of Way.โ The same letter urged the city to investigate DHSโs actions as a violation of the facilityโs Conditional Use Permit, which requires the agency not to pose โan unreasonable safety threat for nearby uses and residents.โ
Protesters and online commentators reacted with fury. One Reddit user, u/UtopianPablo, wrote:
โWhat the f***, thatโs a hard and cheap shot from behind on a guy just standing there.โ
Others expressed concern that the attack could have caused severe injury or even death. โHe couldโve so easily cracked his skull upon impact,โ one commenter noted, calling the agentโs actions โutterly stupid.โ
The confrontation came during a night when DHS agents reportedly deployed tear gas and fired โless-lethalโ munitions from the roof of the ICE building at civilians gathered on the sidewalk. It’s a tactic demonstrators say was unprovoked and part of an escalating pattern of violence toward peaceful protests in the city.
The veteranโs condition has not been publicly confirmed, and DHS has not responded to requests for comment as of press time. Local activists are urging residents to call Portlandโs City Code Enforcement office at 503-823-2633 or email [email protected] to demand the revocation of ICEโs permit.
As one commenter put it bluntly:
โThese are Americans doing this. They deserve nothing short of life sentences for stomping on the constitution like theyโre doing.โ
This incident adds to growing tensions between federal agencies and Portlandโs activist community, a conflict that continues to play out in increasingly aggressive and public ways.
