Protester Tackled by Federal Officers in Portland: A Veteran’s Story
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran has taken legal action against the Department of Homeland Security after being tackled by federal law enforcement during a protest outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked significant public interest and raised questions about the treatment of demonstrators.
Daryn Herzberg II, a 34-year-old Portland resident, was part of a group of protesters at the Macadam ICE building on August 13. The footage shows Herzberg holding a boombox and playing music while shouting at officers both above and inside the facility. In one clip, he is heard addressing the officers directly, expressing his disappointment in their actions. He mentions feeling ashamed of the officers for firing on unarmed protesters, pointing to those watching from above.
The video was obtained by KOIN 6 News, but the sound was removed due to profanity. The clip ends with Herzberg continuing to assert that the officers are violating the Constitution. In another clip, officers can be seen opening the gate and marching toward protesters at the end of the driveway. Herzberg is shown holding the boombox as he is pushed onto the ground by officers who approach him from behind.
As the protesters move away from the facility, tear gas is deployed, and officers can be heard instructing them to back up. Herzberg is seen being held down by officers even as the tear gas swirls around him. He does not appear to be wearing any protective gear.
Another protester is heard saying, “He did not need to be tackled like that,” emphasizing that Herzberg is a veteran of the country. USMC confirmed to KOIN 6 News that Herzberg served from 2008 to 2012, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He has received several military service awards, including a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and a National Defense Service Medal.
In an interview, Herzberg shared his reasons for attending protests regularly. He explained that he tries to talk to ICE and DHS agents to discourage them from continuing their work. He believes they should remember their oath to uphold the Constitution. Herzberg noted that shouting is the only way he can reach the officers since they are often far away from the sidewalk.
When agents come close enough for him to talk to, he stops yelling and tries to engage with them personally. He feels that they should be on the same side. However, during this particular protest, he was tackled from behind without warning. The video contains a lot of yelling and swearing, making it difficult to determine if any conversation took place between Herzberg and the agents.
According to the tort claim notice, one of the agents allegedly grabbed Herzberg by the hair and slammed his face into the ground while making a derogatory comment. Officers eventually took him into the back for questioning, where he was issued a citation for failing to comply. As a result of the altercation, Herzberg experienced fear, nausea, dizziness, problems breathing and sleeping, as well as pain in his chest, shoulder, ribs, and back.
Despite his injuries, Herzberg returned to the ongoing demonstration outside the Portland ICE facility on August 16. He felt the need to show solidarity with his fellow protesters. He took some ibuprofen and went back, trying to keep his distance this time. However, he claims he was targeted in a second attack, resulting in three more citations.
According to the complaint, Herzberg was diagnosed with a head injury and a concussion without loss of consciousness following the second altercation. His lawyer, Michael Fuller, stated that they look forward to presenting this case to a local Portland judge in the next six months.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to emails from KOIN 6 News requesting comment. The situation remains under investigation, and further updates are expected as the story develops.
