An elderly couple, both 84, were assailed by federal officers (ICE?) on Sunday at a peaceful protest of the ICE facility in their Portland, Oregon neighborhood. Picture this: An elderly couple. He was wearing his Vietnam veterans cap, and using his walker. They were violently pushed to the ground by a large group of agents who rushed them. She sustained a concussion.
The Oregonian reports the couple joined the protest on a spur of the moment when they saw the kickoff rally at the neighborhood park from their kitchen window. They walk past the ICE building daily with their dog. Laurie Eckman and Richard Eckman, a Vietnam war veteran with 10 years active duty, collected the signs they saved from the June 14 No Kings rally in Portland and headed to the park. Richard’s sign said: “Vets against militarization” and Laurie’s said: “Will swap 1 Little King Donald for 10,000-plus immigrants.” They joined this group because it looked peaceful and not threatening.
Soon the crowd marched to the ICE facility, with the couple carrying their signs and Richard using his walker. Around 1 pm, a group of federal agents came out and arrested at least three people, including one of the protest leaders who federal agents dragged into the ICE building.
In the past, these agents have been seen taking down protestors, restraining them and placing them on platform hand carts to wheel into the building.
Around 2 pm a large group of agents burst out of the building and rushed at the Eckmans and other protesters, knocking them down to the ground.
The Eckmans were helped by a small group of protestors including a doctor and after a time were able to begin the walk home. They were met by four Portland Police officers.
According to The Oregonian report “They very kindly wanted to make sure I was okay,” Laurie Eckman said. “And they explained that they were not allowed to make verbal contact with the feds and had to stay about a block away. They were very solicitous of me, which I appreciated very much.”
The Eckmans then went to the emergency room and found Laurie Eckman sustained a concussion, but her husband wasn’t injured.