Four distinct ralliesβone in favor of Donald Trump and agendas loyal to his presidency, and three againstβconverged in Portland on Sunday afternoon. And what for the past week had looked like it could turn into a bloody disaster instead involved a lot of shouting between the various parties and not much more.
No serious injuries were reported from the demonstrations, though police did crack down on a rally organized by antifa groups ready to clash with the alt-right people across the street. Pepper spray and tear gas were deployed, and police report 14 arrests. Both groups had their masked contingents, wielding flags attached to heavy sticks. But a robust police presence ensured they never met in any meaningful way. The rally for free speech, organized by a Vanouver-based right-wing personality named Joey Gibson, ended at around 4:30 pm.
Here's a rundown of the day, as it happened.
UPDATE 6:13 PM: Looks like most of the action is over. VanderHart, out!
I'm off the streets and finally sitting down, FYI. For the chaos, today had far, far less conflict than people were prepared for.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 5, 2017
UPDATE 5:56 PM: Rumors are a-buzzing about Portland Police forcing Antifa and other protesters out of the park and into the street where they were arrested while pro-Trump folks left Schrunk Plaza.
Every account, by every journalist, shows police forced them out of park, then arrested them for walking somewhere else. It's a tactic. https://t.co/lD7rxxMMv1
β Michael (@OmanReagan) June 5, 2017
UPDATE 5:37 PM: There is still a MAGA crew roaming around downtown. Still other pockets of activity as well.
There's a biggish group of MAGA folks marching on the sidewalk. Including folks who acted as security. pic.twitter.com/nrUZerXNL7
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 5, 2017
There are clots of people down here still, but not much focused action. pic.twitter.com/EvGEhFZ1Uq
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 5, 2017
Nm. A clash between factions at 4th and Madison. pic.twitter.com/4F7x82ZgpP
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 5, 2017
Lots of police activity at Chapman and Lowsdale square. Some protesters at city hall. #defendpdx pic.twitter.com/uOPd3f0RGR
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 5, 2017
UPDATE 5:20 PM: As pro-Trumpers leave Schrunk Plaza, chants of "Don't come back!"
Lots of taunting and "don't come back!" chants as people file out of Schrunk Plaza. pic.twitter.com/AVby10zYqN
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 5, 2017
UPDATE 5:07 PM: It appears as if police are releasing people from the kettle after photographing their IDs, some are being arrested.
Police are taking photos of peoples' IDs and releasing them. Slow train of demonstrators leaving the area north on 4th. pic.twitter.com/ehYBjuynDg
β Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) June 4, 2017
Not sure when this happened. Across street from police kettle. pic.twitter.com/ft41IJt4os
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Weapons and other items being seized at SW 4th and Morrison. pic.twitter.com/KYBTPRJsb7
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 4:43 PM: Several journalists and ACLU legal observers are caught up in the kettle (more on Portland police releasing journalists from kettles in the past here). Police are saying they will arrest those identified as participating in criminal activity. Still calm for the moment. Meanwhile, cops also head into Schrunk Plaza where the pro-Trump rally is clearing.
A number of journalists caught up in kettle. https://t.co/YYJtSSafB0
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Scene from the police kettle, hundred or so detained including at least 4-5 journalists. #defendpdx pic.twitter.com/bIVcWZsnSa
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
At SW 4th and Morrison, those who have been identified as participating in criminal activity will be arrested.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
Cops coming into Schrunk pic.twitter.com/Ra0wDA1iLh
β Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 4:33 PM: Police are detaining a large group at SW 4th and Morrison. Number of people varies depending on source, but it appears to be more than a few.
This is the south end of a police kettle at Morrison and Fourth. Cops are planning to arrest people for disorderly conduct. pic.twitter.com/SRH9lLepTc
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Officers addressing large crowd in area of SW 4th Avenue and Morrison Street.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
Cops are detaining antifa marchers who took off after their rally was shut down.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Also note to our distribution crew, we're going to need some new boxes.
Ah jeez. Makeshift roadblocks. pic.twitter.com/VID34RlEI6
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 4:26 PM: Antifa protestors were on the move. Very quickly ketteled by police.
Huge antifa march passing pioneer place mall. #defendpdx pic.twitter.com/sUv5EYjRtI
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
Kettlled. Might be arrested. #defendpdx pic.twitter.com/AMFdeOSHU6
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 4:15 PM: Seems like things are at something of a standstill as pro Trump rally is scheduled to wrap up, except for some end-of-rally trolling. A few small scuffles have broken out and a few arrests have been made.
Familiar post-Trump territory. https://t.co/AsvlPHHh73
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Now that Baked Alaska guy is trolling people across the street w a bullhorn. It is bad trolling.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 3:55 PM: The pro Trump rally is scheduled to end at 4 pm, right about the same time the anti-hate rally is supposed to finish.
Anti-hate rally at City Hall is over. Organizers telling people to disperse. Cops and demonstrators are still at Chapman. pic.twitter.com/KJ6YTnwYPj
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Now cops have closed Lownsdale Square, north of Chapman.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Maybe later they can put it back where they found it? Okay, guys? Guys?
More newstands being taken by masked protesters to add to the barricade. #Defendpdx pic.twitter.com/8rioMecC0e
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 3:45 PM: While most of Chapman Square has been cleared (as the Trump rally continues), there is still confrontation happening in the park.
Things have died down a bit. Police are still facing down people in Chapman, ordering them to disperse and saying officers have been asslted
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Hearing from folks in Chapman Square that they want to leave for safety but that Police are surrounding them.
β Mat dos Santos (@MatPDX) June 4, 2017
.@ACLU_OR legal observer hit with rubber bullet and chemicals in Chapman Square. This is not ok @PortlandPolice. #portland
β Mat dos Santos (@MatPDX) June 4, 2017
MERCURY BOX DOWN!
Antifa repurposed this traffic stuff and newspaper stands to create a barricade on sw 4 and main. #defendpdx pic.twitter.com/I1myv3UEbI
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 3:35 PM: In an attempt to push back protesters in Chapman Park, police have started using tear gas and flash bangs. The park is now closed.
Glass bottle, balloons, bricks, thrown at police in Chapman Square. Less-lethal chemical munitions have been deployed.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
Riot cops are moving on Chapman. Pushing antifa back.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Cops just announced unlawful assembly. Ordering people to leave. pic.twitter.com/2BAYlAmUvm
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Police pushing back protesters at Chapman Sq pic.twitter.com/ZjZ9P68pXj
β Janaki Chadha (@JanakiChadha) June 4, 2017
Chapman Square closed to all.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 3:25 PM:The Trump supporter known as Base Stickman has taken the stage, meanwhile Portland Police is trying to maintain the buffer between opposing sides by closing down the south part of Chapman Park.
Kyle Chapman aka @BasedStickMan_ speaking about protest in Berkeley that turned violent. "I cracked some skulls of some commies." #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/0DHEC8AEXq
β Lashay Wesley (@LashayKATU) June 4, 2017
People in Chapman Square need to move to the northern half of the park to allow larger safety buffer between groups.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
People in Chapman Square move to northern half of park to allow larger safety buffer between groups. Crowd given announcements from police.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
Police just announced the south side of Chapman is closed bc of "criminal activity." This is where things could get bad. pic.twitter.com/pmBDj9RtRV
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 3:15 PM: As speakers at the pro-Trump rally continue, side-discussions break out. Tense, but still peaceful.
This guy has staked out his own corner to argue about his terrible take. Apart from rally. pic.twitter.com/s3ldUs1YT0
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Police tell those involved in a heated discussion on 3rd & Jefferson to return to the area where their groups are located #koin6news #pdx pic.twitter.com/hc3cKWusQs
β Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 2:45 PM: Talking it out.
This lady is arguing that black people don't receive different treatment than white people. Very certain. Woman on left trying to be patient pic.twitter.com/aLHnSM0JUl
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
It's a sign certainly catching a lot of attn - a group of young African Americans engaging in conversation with man holding it #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/Frtbktkjd1
β Cole Miller (@ColeKOIN) June 4, 2017
Crowd at pro-Trump rally begin chanting to lock Hillary up. #pdxprotests https://t.co/3gZHnwO32d
β Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury) June 4, 2017
UPDATE: 2:25 PM:
Some people are trying to bridge the gap. Not going great. pic.twitter.com/2hYT7JhQAT
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
"Let's hear it for the two patriots who gave it all," Joey Gibson tells crowd. Speaking of MAX stabbings. pic.twitter.com/Vpv5t1SkUU
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
The rally has filled out, largely drawing participants away from facing off w antifa across road. pic.twitter.com/E3EjtoC9nL
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Dude who's singing the National Anthem just flubbed the words. Seriously.
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 2:15 PM: Here are a couple of great pix from our Mercury photogs on the street, Natalie Behring and @shotboxer.


UPDATE 2:10 PM: The pro-Trump rally at Schrunk Plaza kicks off with an unsurprising soundtrack.
And live music kicks off at the Free Speech rally. Country, clearly. "Chicken fried." pic.twitter.com/ek0g1hJ2jr
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Meanwhile, standard shenanigans ensue.
Someone holds up a burning flag at antifa rally and gets everyone riled up. pic.twitter.com/cVUqoeTL6F
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 1:45 PM: Thousands have gathered downtown with Pro-Trump supporters being significantly outnumbered. Still relatively peaceful, with the usual side order of shenanigans.
. @realDonaldTrump supporter ventured into the Antifa crowd. Got chased out, water thrown on him & covered in silly string. pic.twitter.com/WEdkRqQ3z3
β Maggie Vespa KGW (@Maggie_Vespa) June 4, 2017
Someone bumrushed Schrunk. Was quickly run down and arrested. Cops getting pushy. pic.twitter.com/qHYItE1SPo
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 1:15 PM: Trump supporters heading to Schrunk Plaza.
Organizers of Trump rally asking people to come back to bowl at Terry Schrunk Plaza #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/KbtG2KSkVA
β Cole Miller (@ColeKOIN) June 4, 2017
Schrunk Plaza still not packed. Rally starts at 2. Lots of folks here watching counter protests across street. Couple hundred all told? pic.twitter.com/4NueGei2Yb
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Across the street, antifa growing in number. pic.twitter.com/kHEEb1IoPn
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Largest by far is the anti-hate rally in front of City Hall. pic.twitter.com/V9HrcjBwOK
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Alt right chant USA. Protesters across street counter w "You are not the USA." pic.twitter.com/9scyVaVA2v
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 1 PM: Situation largely unchanged, feds make another arrest.
FPS has made another arrest at Terry Schrunk Plaza.
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
"Immigrants are here to stay, Nazi scum go away!" pic.twitter.com/p13eMFTROV
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Joey Gibson, organizer of alt-right rally, looks across 3rd at counter -demonstrators. pic.twitter.com/bX3u7ZCkDq
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Awkward. https://t.co/HUFtbzbnow
β Andi Zeisler (@andizeisler) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 12:30 PM: The scene at City Hall.
pic.twitter.com/skEm8dIHfG
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 12:15 PM:
Feds have weapons ready. People are already just cursing at each other. pic.twitter.com/NTTQySVqRl
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Not good.
"God I hate them," alt-righty Based Spartan says. "I look over there and just want to smash." He's with his daughter. pic.twitter.com/sXtPomBzzW
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
More not good.
"I'm willing to use violence. Do I want it? Not necessarily." Great. pic.twitter.com/uUbyQYyEE7
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 12:07 PM: Annnd it's heating up.
Antifa already being threatened w arrest if they try to cross Madison into Alt-Right rally. pic.twitter.com/9DFkSwmscf
β Dirk VanderHart (@dirquez) June 4, 2017
Cops are moving in on protesters.
Cops literally busted the anarchist rally. Total ownage of the anarchists. Confiscation. Unsure about arrests pic.twitter.com/5k7MvbVvjs
β Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2017
And the Feds have arrested one so far.
One person has been arrested by Federal Protective Service (FPS).
β Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
UPDATE 11:57 AM: Just before noon and the crowds (and cops) are showing up in droves.
The squares are packed. pic.twitter.com/wocDobFG8N
β Jessica Floum (@jfloum) June 4, 2017
Here come the turtles, #Portland pic.twitter.com/uNugWnPy2V
β Oregon History (@oregon_history) June 4, 2017
Portland police in riot gear line north side of SW Madison in downtown Portland. Homeland Security lining the other side adjacent fed park. pic.twitter.com/s4UI2OVNK1
β Mat dos Santos (@MatPDX) June 4, 2017
It's going to be a very busy day. In response to a "Trump Free Speech Rally" scheduled for 2-5 pm today at Terry Schrunk Plaza, there are multiple counter protests.
These include a "Portland Stands United Against Hate" rally at City Hall from 12:30 pm-4:30 pm which has been endorsed by 70 local organizations (including Portland Jewish Voices for Peace, Latino Network, Urban League of Portland, NARAL, and more). This is being billed as a peaceful protest against violence, and you can follow them on Twitter with the hashtag #PDXagainsthate.
Also scheduled is a Anti-Fascist rally at Chapman Square from noon-4pm to stand in direct opposition to the Trump Free Speech rally. From their Facebook page: "It is time that Portland stood up to these ceaseless rallies which are little more than opportunities for racists to network, mainstream their message, and intimidate vulnerable communities." They have also asked the media and participants to look for any "disparate treatment from Portland police" in regards to any violence committed against them by the Trump rally supporters. Their Twitter hashtag for this event is #DefendPDX.
And a labor/immigrants right group will be holding a counter-rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza called "Fascists Out of Portland." Eighty people have so far said they will attend, and you can follow them at the hashtag #fascistsoutofportland.
We'll be doing live coverage of these events all day, so follow us here as well as @portlandmercury for all the highlights. If you want second-by-second action, follow News Editor Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.
Buckle your seat belts, it's bound to be a bumpy ride.
Currently hanging in Portland βπΎ pic.twitter.com/sAdG9lWFxw
β PDX Resistance β (@Pdx_resistance) June 4, 2017