This is U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon. You may have seen my home state in the news.

Federal agents in military gear have invaded the streets of Portland under an order from Donald Trump.

They are swooping innocent protestors off the street without saying who they work for, without alleging any crime, and without saying where they are taking people.

Authoritarian governments, not democratic republics, send unmarked police after protesters.

When I get back to Washington DC next week, I will be introducing, with Sen. Ron Wyden, and Sen. Chris Murphy, an amendment to the must-pass defense bill to stop the Trump Administration from sending its paramilitary squads onto America's streets.

All my colleagues on both sides of the aisle need to know the public is paying attention and won't tolerate this. Will you sign on as a supporter of our emergency proposal?

Republicans pretend to care about federalism. But this secret Trump paramilitary was sent into Oregon without the permission of our state, and over the protests of local and state officials.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Protection Service, alleging they seized and detained Oregonians without probable cause. The courts and Congress must act.

Every state is at risk. We can't let these authoritarian tactics stand. Please sign onto emergency legislation saying this is unacceptable in America and must end.

Thanks for being a patriotic American.

-- Sen. Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley)

EMERGENCY UPDATE FROM THE PCCC:

On Monday, we need to expand our full-page newspaper ad featuring veterans calling Trump out for this lawless behavior. Please chip in now so we can place a big order in key states on Monday.

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.