The demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, are soon in their 60th day without a break. But they have changed character. What began as demonstrations against the killing of George Floyd and against violence against black Americans - is now also about protesting against federal police sent to Portland on the spot, against the mayor's will. 

A new feature is also the yellow-clad mothers who take their place among the protesters, night after night. The movement was started just over a week ago by a number of white mothers who wanted to support the demonstrations against police brutality. Today it is led by three black women, one of them Demetria Hester.

- This movement has been around for a long time. Now we have only united our white mothers with our black brothers. It is fantastic that we all use our votes to get the point that black lives count, she tells SVT Nyheter.

Acting human shields

The mothers have received a lot of attention in the United States in recent days as they acted as human shields between federal police and protesters. Many have endured tear gas, a few have been injured by rubber bullets. 

"For 400 years, black mothers have been at the forefront of the struggle for ethnic justice. We exist to strengthen their voices, to be a physical barrier between federal agents and police, for their sons and daughters. ” writes "Wall of moms" on its website. 

But the organization has also already been criticized for supporting the violence that has recently arisen daily in connection with the demonstrations in Portland through their late-night presence.

"We try to get equality"

Demetria Hester rejects that criticism and says that black mothers have always been affected by police brutality, either directly or indirectly through their children. 

- We have always been part of the violence. It has never stopped. It's just that everyone can now see that we have also been affected by violence, even though we are mothers. And I do not understand how to treat a mother in this way. That's the whole point. We try to get equality, and make black mothers' lives count. 

SVT: What do you hope the wall of mothers will lead to? 

- That we are treated equally. That we change our laws, that we remove people who do not treat us equally from positions of power and instead bring in people from our society who we love and who will love us.