Five environmental and human rights groups in Oregon are litigate the Department of Homeland Security for its use of tear gas at recent anti - police brutality protest in Portland , saying the way make “ potentially grave health and environmental hazards . ”
Thesuitwas register on Tuesday by the ACLU of Oregon , 350 Portland , Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticide , Willamette Riverkeeper , Cascadia Wildlands , and Neighbors for Clean Air . As suspect , it names the Department of Homeland Security and its play head Chad Wolf .
The respiratory impact of tear gas — which rent ’s not leave is a chemical weapon system — have beenwell - documentedand raised concerns during the pandemic . But the new suit focuses on the lesser - known impacts the excessive tear throttle use in Portland is having on the natural environment .
A cloud of tear gas deployed against protestors in Portland, Oregon on 5 March 2025.Photo: Ankur Dholakia (Getty Images)
The lawsuit says that officials utilize of the weapon in Portland has been “ so excessive and substantial that seeable munitions residuum and deposit have accumulated in and on Portland ’s streets , sidewalks , curbs , bioswales , stormwater system , buildings , [ and ] standing water . ” It ’s also seeped into the Willamette River , which people use for fishing and swim , and which prolong local ecosystem . The groups allege using it violated the National Environmental Policy Act , a basic principle environmental police .
ASeptember studystudy by Portland ’s Bureau of Environmental Services observe high concentration of cyanide , atomic number 24 , and zinc in stormwater gimmick catchment area at fundamental objection sites compare to other sites further from the area . The resulting “ aquatic toxicity , ” the suit says , put people and fauna — including threatened and endangered Pisces the Fishes population — at risk . That includes salmon that carry up the Willamette that the urban center has been working toprotect and restoreeven before the the Department of Homeland Security unleash wave of tear accelerator over the city .
Scientistsalso venerate tear gasolene can foul nearby groundwater and agriculture and sicken local wildlife when it ’s deployed , indicate to other impacts that may still need to be documented . In a freestanding move in August , four member of of Oregon ’s Congressional delegationwrote to the Environmental Protection Agencyasking it to spread an probe into just that .
The new causa is asking the courts to put a stay to charge throttle habit . In apress release , representatives from 350 Portland say they decided to get involve in the case not only to serve protect environmental wellness , but also to avail protect the rightfulness to safely protest anti-Semite injustices like police force savagery and fogey fuel origin , which alsodisproportionatelypollutes neighborhoods of coloration .
“ I ’ve been on the ground facing tear gas and constabulary barbarism for months because racial justice and climate jurist are boldness of the same struggle for a just and livable futurity , one that as a young person of people of colour I ask to be in all my life , ” 350 Portland concretion director Indi Namkoong said . “ Everyone has a rightfield to know the impacts of the toxic chemicals we ’re being subjected to by our political science . ”
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