PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Up until last week, Portland police have used tear gas routinely to clear out an area. Now that the gas has been banned, officers have been seen marching, or even running, in a line with batons, telling everyone to get out of the way.

Many people KATU has spoken to while out at the protests said it's easy to get stuck when officers come rushing in. 

"It’s getting really scary for some of us," said Cory Elia, managing editor of Village Portland. "We are there to serve and report. We are essential workers, same as them. They are assaulting us and it’s not right. We’re supposed to be out there; we need to be out there."

Elia said he has been injured more than once since the protests began at the end of May. Once was when he was pepper-sprayed; the other time was when he said two different officers hit him with their batons.

"I’m telling the officers, 'I’m a journalist, I’m a journalist, I’m getting out of here.' One of the female officers, she takes her baton and literally is screaming at me – she doesn’t care if I’m a journalist," Elia said. "She was pushing me forward towards Yamhill from Taylor on Fourth there against the parking structure. I’m telling them, 'I can’t see, I can’t breathe'. I got stuff falling out of my pockets, my phone wasn’t even in my pocket all the way, I’m trying to hold onto my bike. One of the male officers comes up and just goes, 'I don’t care' and literally just hits me in the back. Then as I was turning around, he put me head first into the wall."

KATU reached out to Portland police numerous times on Monday. A spokesperson said no one was available for an interview or to answer our questions because they are in an active situation and do not have time to discuss tactics or strategies. 

They further provided the following information.

"Ideally, when we provide direction and lawful orders, those in the area of impact would willingly disperse on their own. Unfortunately, that is not what we have observed or experienced in the past several weeks, so our teams use a variety of methods to encourage individuals and groups to disperse so we can regain public order and increase public safety."

Over the weekend we heard from other journalists and protesters who said they were hurt during the protests. 

City leaders responded to the allegations Monday.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted that police actions were "extremely concerning" and asked for specific complaints to be sent to his office for investigation.

City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said she remained "concerned over the excessive force continually shown by Portland police and will meet with Chief Chuck Lovell to discuss concerns.

City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly sent out a statement condemning the use of force saying in part, ""I'm calling on the Mayor and Police Chief to intervene now, to hold officers accountable for these abuses, and to begin the process of demilitarizing the police, starting with a ban on the use of munitions against protesters."

The Portland Police Bureau posted a video over the weekend addressing its relationship with the media.