Another Saturday, another opportunity for the fascist dummies of Patriot Prayer to troll Portland and grab lots of media coverage for themselves. (So maybe they're not as dumb as we think? They are definitely fascists, though.) Anyway, as conflicted as we are, the Mercury will be keeping an eye on today's protests, so check in periodically to get informed. Note: Newer updates will be at the top, scroll down for earlier stuff.
4 pm—That's it for the Mercury's coverage of today's Patriot Prayer rally and counter demonstration, be sure to check in later this weekend for lots of photos taken by our photogs on the scene. Until then...
3:40 pm—Things are definitely winding down, and to the surprise of no one, Patriot Prayer dorkus Joey Gibson is proclaiming the day a "success."
Joey Gibson packing up says rally was a success next one August 18 Seattle #KOIN6NEWS #pdx #PatriotPrayer #alloutpdx pic.twitter.com/uXCEtApulH
— Lisa Balick (@lisabKOIN) August 4, 2018
Joey Gibson, Republican candidate for US Senate in Washington, talking to his supporters calling the rally amazing. If there’s one thing I learned from Trump, he says, it’s how to troll the left pic.twitter.com/ueMLaYaMIB
— Kirk Siegler (@KirkSiegler) August 4, 2018
3:30 pm—Check out this video of former Mercury reporter Doug Brown getting beaten back by Portland cops with batons, which happened earlier today.
Here's riot cops in Portland rushing and hitting me, @DonovanFarley, and others on the sidewalk. I don't know why they did this. #AllOutPDX #DefendPDX pic.twitter.com/mra0fanen0
— doug brown (@dougbrown8) August 4, 2018
3:15 pm—Two members of Patriot Prayer on the waterfront, sharing a joint, and perhaps reconsidering their priorities?
Why is Kelly Clarkson playing at the Patriot Prayer rally? #AllOutPDX #DefendPDX
— Zakir Khan (@Muzzakh) August 4, 2018
3:05 pm—Things seem to be calming and winding down. Cops have returned to separating the two groups on Naito, and as it turns out, Patriot Prayer participants aren't used to this type of exertion.
sad to see that despite simply trying to do peaceful free speech, many of the proud boys in portland today were brutally attacked by *checks notes* mild exercise pic.twitter.com/NksxmRfhWt
— KT NELSON (@KrangTNelson) August 4, 2018
Antifa is chanting "Nazis go home". Patriot Prayer is gathered near the Salmon Springs Fountain #pdx #protests #koin6news pic.twitter.com/UJKUa7VxvJ
— Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) August 4, 2018
2:55 pm—A very good idea. Make a note of it!
Anti-fascist demonstrators wearing blowup sunflower shields at SW Salmon & Naito pic.twitter.com/rqzVZON8XG
— Tyler Dumont FOX 12 (@TylerDumontNews) August 4, 2018
Meanwhile, as Portland Police chase counter demonstrators away, Joey Gibson gets to practice his free speech:
“We’re not going to stand down, especially in Portland” - Joey Gibson, Patriot Prayer leader. pic.twitter.com/yk0u0ft6Cf
— Keaton Thomas (@keaton_thomas) August 4, 2018
Joey Gibson has announced a rally for Seattle on August 18th. No mention so far of his primary on Tuesday that I have heard
— Jason Wilson (@jason_a_w) August 4, 2018
2:45 pm—Meanwhile back at the river...
These guys are anchored up yelling at Joey to “get the fuck out of Portland. Fuck Patriot Prayer and Fuck Donald Trump” while blasting fuck Donald trump pic.twitter.com/ZjaVeKrhth
— Zac Conklin-Farrell (@zacconklin) August 4, 2018
ALSO:
Not sure what happened, but they definitely left their own side, which was protected by police
— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) August 4, 2018
2:25 pm—Portland police seem to now be focusing much of their attention on counter protesters (much to the joy of Patriot Pride losers), and are pushing them blocks away with riot control methods.
After I took this video an anti-fascist was hit with some kind of projectile shot by cops. He seems fine. Cat and mouse game between cops and anti-fascists in Portland right now. pic.twitter.com/Fxk12pgbQO
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 4, 2018
Portland Police have now declared this a civil disturbance, @PortlandPolice telling everyone to disperse @fox12oregon
— Sarah Hurwitz (@sehurwitz) August 4, 2018
Oregon State Police troopers have responded to assist Portland Police Bureau officers with the demonstrators in downtown Portland. https://t.co/yTMi9WmL1Y pic.twitter.com/afH4wTnuNb
— FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) August 4, 2018
2:10 pm—Reports of projectiles being thrown, and Portland Police are ordering crowds to disperse, and firing flash bangs and pepper spray.
The sound truck has announced: pic.twitter.com/qTiKhcs7pK
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 4, 2018
PPB wants all protestors to immediately disperse or face arrest. Several Loud bangs have been heard. Projectiles have been thrown PPB says.
— Ericka Cruz Guevarra (@erkagvra) August 4, 2018
#BREAKING: Flash bangs being used towards crowd at SW Columbia pic.twitter.com/zLwH9wJRCi
— Tyler Dumont FOX 12 (@TylerDumontNews) August 4, 2018
We were all just charged indiscriminately, press including me and @dougbrown8 and we're hit with batons multiple times. #AllOutPDX #DefendPDX
— Donovan "Abolish Guac Being Extra" Farley 🌯 (@DonovanFarley) August 4, 2018
Was just standing next to @Oregonian reporter @edercampuzano, he got hit with something and is bleeding. Medics helping him. Things are getting extremely intense, even for those of us standing back from the center of these groups pic.twitter.com/F4ID7Dj2Zp
— Tyler Dumont FOX 12 (@TylerDumontNews) August 4, 2018
UPDATE: Reporter Eder Campuzano (pictured above) is reportedly being treated, and will be okay. Best wishes, Eder!
2 pm—True:
Just a typical Portland summer Saturday where you don't know if the street is closed for a farmer's market or for the white supremacist rally.
— Eric D. Snider (@EricDSnider) August 4, 2018
Also true:
A pro-antifa Uhaul truck just showed up. Sign on front says “racists can’t dance.” #defendPDX #alloutPDX pic.twitter.com/o9aNPnGBqX
— PDX Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) August 4, 2018
See below for proof.
1:30 pm— Presented without comment.
I uhh...idk pic.twitter.com/FYSeKA5gMV
— Brendan O'Connor (@_grendan) August 4, 2018
Meanwhile, Patriot Prayer dumbbells are marching south, pursued by counter protesters. (Maybe we can chase 'em all the way to Lake Oswego?)
Patriot Prayer marches under the Hawthorne Bridge, headed south on the waterfront as counterdemonstrators follow nearby. pic.twitter.com/bwd0uPZLuc
— eder campuzano 🇲🇽🇺🇸🎮🎶📽 (@edercampuzano) August 4, 2018
1:15 PM—Let's pause for a moment to laugh at the infantile costumes the Patriot Prayer idiots are wearing.
CHOOSE YOUR PROUDEST BOY FIGHTER pic.twitter.com/5iu5czKbvg
— Rob Sheridan (@rob_sheridan) August 4, 2018
1 pm—Both sides are slowly skootching down the street toward the Morrison Bridge.
Crowds on both sides of Naito are now inching away from barriers down the street toward Morrison Bridge overpass @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/iqFQKvVqYM
— Sarah Hurwitz (@sehurwitz) August 4, 2018
A view from above on the Morrison Bridge:
And this. pic.twitter.com/mfR1Kfjk3T
— Leah Sottile (@Leah_Sottile) August 4, 2018
12:40 pm— First possible injury of the protest?
Man down. He’s dripping blood from his head. This is serious. He got in a struggle with some black clad dudes over a flag and one of them clubbed him. Video coming. #DefendPDX #Alloutpdx pic.twitter.com/2rWnAkAC2J
— PDX Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) August 4, 2018
12:30 pm— A TALE OF TWO TWEETS:
Antifa group on west side of SW Naito being ordered to leave immediately and move west after @PortlandPolice say officers have seen people armed with weapons pic.twitter.com/fX7WiFR9pn
— Tyler Dumont FOX 12 (@TylerDumontNews) August 4, 2018
And yet on the other side of the street...
Based on tweets and statements @PortlandPolice issued before, I thought stuff like this would not be allowed in the park. But now it is, apparently? pic.twitter.com/9nx22DmpBF
— eder campuzano 🇲🇽🇺🇸🎮🎶📽 (@edercampuzano) August 4, 2018
HMMMMM....
12:15 pm— Hey everybody, the racist idiot we're all helping make famous is here!
Joey Gibson has arrived on the waterfront. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/zxecZUMBAW
— Keaton Thomas (@keaton_thomas) August 4, 2018
"SQUEEEEE! IT'S THE JUSTIN BIEBER OF FASCISTS! SQUEEEEEEEEEE!"
Noon— Protesters have now filled Salmon street, as drones fly above.
And guys! The marching band is here!
A marching band has now arrived on the Far-left side. They are in the middle of the street. @PortlandPolice Will have to decide whether to allow them to continue to block the road. #pdxProtest pic.twitter.com/yQq5gSnyAY
— Dan Tilkin (@DanTilkinKOIN6) August 4, 2018
11:30 am— Police have started taking away poles from the Patriot Prayer LARPers. OMIGOD THEY LOOK FUCKING RIDICULOUS.
Police swoop into the Patriot Prayer group and start taking poles, protesters get testy w police. #DefendPDX #AllOutPDX pic.twitter.com/53PhLvpNdh
— PDX Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) August 4, 2018
Here’s a look at what police have confiscated pic.twitter.com/AqxwdW7gPO
— Keaton Thomas (@keaton_thomas) August 4, 2018
Something to think about...
You don’t need to feel guilty for not going if you are unable. We all need to resist fascism but we also all have different skills, needs, tactics and abilities. Use yours. #DefendPDX
— Gregory McKelvey (@GregoryMcKelvey) August 4, 2018
LOVE THIS:
Fonzie and Jesus do NOT like the proud boys.#DefendPDX #AllOutPDX #AllOutAugust pic.twitter.com/YdZYtxWce9
— PNWAWC (@PNWAWC) August 4, 2018
Also something to think about...
My #prayer for #Portland is that our city be free of violence. Patriot Prayer wants violence; they feed off hate. We should not set our watches by Joey Gibson's agenda. He’s a small man with small followers like the #ProudBoys. Be better. No one should give them what they want.
— Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie (@RevChuckCurrie) August 4, 2018
11:00 am—Counter protesters are gathering at City Hall and will soon be making their way down to the Waterfront, where the Patriot Prayer b-holes are currently gathering wearing ridiculous outfits that make them look like LARPers. "Forsooth! Have at thee, vile liberals!"
The Proud Boys and the Ninja Turtles have joined forces pic.twitter.com/entkmzvjw9
— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) August 4, 2018
Counter protesters have gathered at Portland City Hall. A group named Pop Mob has organized this counter protest. They plan to march to Waterfront Park at 11:30, where Patriot Prayer is hosting a rally. pic.twitter.com/aPS27MUZZo
— Christine Pitawanich (@CPitawanichKGW) August 4, 2018
Meanwhile Portland police have set up barricades to keep the protesters apart and have set up check stations to make sure no one is bringing any weapons... except of course for the handguns that licensed owners can legally conceal. Thanks a poop-ton, Oregon Concealed Gun Laws!
UPDATE: Demonstration Saturday at Waterfront Park (Photo) https://t.co/21mbvIBnVo pic.twitter.com/JxcwTwOOEN
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 4, 2018
This is a fair take:
Interesting to think about what role Portland media plays in creating fascist/anti-fascist confrontation. My sense is the coverage helps to create a sense of expectation and on some level spurs confrontation, violence. Then the same media engages in handwringing over it.
— David Menschel (@davidminpdx) August 4, 2018
Also:
Clowns have arrived. https://t.co/GhIXwgrubS
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) August 4, 2018
