Viewpoints: Mothers form a human shield against US federal agents

Many people, including a large march of mothers, demonstrate for racial justice and against Donald Trump’s insertion of federal officers in Portland, Oregon. Picture: John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Wearing bike helmets and yellow T-shirts, America’s mothers are confronting federal agents in combat gear to protect anti-racism protesters in Portland and, soon, other US cities where US president Donald Trump has vowed to crackdown.

Trump announced a plan on Wednesday to send federal agents to the Democratic-run cities of Chicago and Albuquerque to crackdown on violent crime in an escalation of his “law and order” theme heading into the final months before the presidential election.