PORTLAND, Aug 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A far-right rally and leftist counter-
demonstration in the city of Portland, Oregon wrapped up Saturday amid a
heavy police presence with no major incidents, following fears that violent
clashes would break out.
President Donald Trump had tweeted that the city was “being watched very
carefully. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!”
Police were out in force, keeping the opposing camps apart as demonstrators
converged on a waterfront park. Authorities arrested at least 13 people, but
there were no serious injuries, a police spokeswoman said.
Authorities had seized batons, homemade shields, bear repellant spray, even
curtain rods.
Following the dispersal of the rallies, small groups of opposing
demonstrators broke into scuffles, attacking each other with their fists and
pepper spray, according to witnesses.
Saturday’s far-right gathering was organized in part by a group that calls
itself the Proud Boys and says its members are young, “Western chauvinist”
men.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights organization, has
classified the Proud Boys as a hate group.
Its leaders say the goal of the Portland rally was to have the so-called
antifa movement declared a domestic terror organization, news reports said.
Antifa stands for anti-fascist and refers to a loose international
coalition of activists and protesters who oppose far-right ideology. There
have been scattered incidents of violence purportedly involving antifa
members.
Trump tweeted that “Major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an
“ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.” He did not elaborate.
Portland, one of the most liberal US cities, is an antifa stronghold and
the local Rose City Antifa had urged people “to defend Portland against far-
right attack.”
More than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Portland for the rally and
counter-demonstration, according to police.
Authorities shut down downtown streets. Scores of riot police kept a close
watch over the events as boats patrolled the Willamette River dividing the
city.
Right-wing activists including the Proud Boys brandished American flags,
while others sported red caps with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan
from his 2016 presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, the counter-demonstration included antifa members dressed all in
black, many wearing masks.
They were joined by ordinary citizens of Portland protesting the far-right
demonstrators in their city, including one wearing a unicorn costume and a
marching band dressed as bananas.