Violence broke out in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Sunday as Antifa activists stormed a Patriot Prayer rally — about a year after similar dueling rallies triggered bloody fights and arrests.
Some protesters on Sunday hurled bottles and fireworks at police officers while others were caught with knives and other weapons, Portland Police tweeted. Officials encouraged people to get out of the immediate area “for their safety.”
WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY
Another fight. And some sort of pepper spray pic.twitter.com/FOlnbvjBrB
— Kandra Kent (@KandraKPTV) June 3, 2018
Many of the Antifa activists wore black and covered their faces. Some protesters said they were demonstrating against police brutality; one sign bluntly read “F— the police.”
Patriot Prayer, which bills itself as a peaceful First Amendment advocacy group, organized a rally — “Tiny’s Freedom March,” a going-away event for Tusitala John Toese, who’s close with group leader Joey Gibson — for 5 p.m.
Breaking: Beatdowns at the Patriot Prayer and counterprotest in downtown Portland. Intense video pic.twitter.com/T2H6FveIbb
— PDX Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 3, 2018
The Rose City Antifa scheduled a counter-protest for 4 p.m. “to show Patriot Prayer, just as we showed them last year, that their violence and hatred has no place in Portland.”
Police advising people to stay away from this area. There’s about 30 Patriot Prayer folks and a much larger antifa presence. They’re burning American flags now. @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/nBJDSgJgtl
— Brenna Kelly (@BrennaKellyNews) June 3, 2018
The demonstrations came a year after the same two groups converged in downtown Portland for opposing rallies, KOIN reported. Last year’s protests resulted in 14 arrests.
Here’s a handful of Patriot Prayer here. There’s a few more standing outside the plaza. Most didn’t want to be interviewed. One man says they are here to celebrate freedom of speech and see a friend off who is moving out of the area pic.twitter.com/7EEtPSwk9N
— Kandra Kent (@KandraKPTV) June 3, 2018
Police said Sunday that while the city respects “the right to assemble,” anyone with weapons or anyone involved in violent activities was subject to arrest.
It was not immediately clear if Sunday’s demonstrations downtown resulted in any arrests, but photos and videos posted to social media showed protesters fighting and clashing, while some apparently were doused with pepper spray.
