While the nightly protests and riots concerned federal authorities the Portland Police were solely responsible for protecting property and lives within the city limits. Everything changed two weeks ago when information from an informant reached federal authorities detailing an effort by Antifa members in Portland to target federal employees. Members of Portland’s ‘chapter’ of Antifa were using a software platform for security cameras called OpenALPR that turns any camera into a license plate reader. The group had aimed their cameras at parking structures utilized by federal employees and Portland Police. With this data, they were able to cross-reference the license plat using a website that provided them with the owner’s name and address. Hundreds of federal, state, and city officials were identified. With the names and addresses in hand, Antifa began to build a shared Google Spreadsheet that included links to each identified person’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap, TikTok, and LinkedIn). Antifa member’s reviewed this data to determine which employees had spouses and children.
When DHS learned of Antifa’s data collection efforts they warned the 5,000 or so, federal employees, working in Portland to either delete their social media accounts or set them to private. After weeks of protests, mayhem, and rioting in Portland everyone was on edge. News that Antifa was targeting federal employees and their families sent a shockwave through the community of federal workers in Portland. Acting DHS Secretary Chad F. Wolf arranged for additional security for both the government buildings and the federal employees who work inside.
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