During a Patriot Prayer rally in Portland, Oregon, members of the alt-right militia stationed themselves on top of a building overlooking the protest with a cache of weapons
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Alt-Right Militia Members Sat on a Roof With "Long Guns" During an August Rally
During the August 4 Patriot Prayer rally in Portland, Oregon, members of the alt-right militia stationed themselves on top of a building overlooking the protest with a cache of weapons, seemingly prepared to escalate violence. The Portland Police Department, however, did not see fit to inform city officials of this fact until today, months after the rally.
During a press conference today, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler revealed that Patriot Prayer had stretched Portland’s lenient gun legislation to its limits. Members of the group often open-carry firearms whenever local jurisdictions allow it, attempting to intimidate opposition.
Prior to the start of a scheduled Aug. 4 demonstration, “the Portland Police Bureau discovered individuals who positioned themselves on a rooftop parking structure in downtown Portland with a cache of firearms,” Wheeler said during a City Hall press conference. Berk Nelson, a senior mayoral aide, said the weapons included “long guns.”
The people on the rooftop were members of Patriot Prayer, said Assistant Chief Ryan Lee. Police officers seized their weapons that day, but they were later given back. No arrests were made because the protesters had not broken any laws, Lee said. The protesters all had licenses to carry concealed weapons, Lee said. Neither Lee nor Wheeler named the people who had guns seized.
The term “long gun” typically refers to a rifle with a lengthy barrel for shooting at distance. It’s a blanket term that can also include shotguns, but it seems unlikely to me that it refers to a shotgun in this case. Gun nuts will debate semantics over what exactly constitutes a sniper rifle (were they semi-automatic or bolt action, what caliber were they chambered in, etc etc), but colloquially, the term is apt if the “long guns” were rifles. I’ve reached out to the Portland Police Bureau to clarify the types of weapons that were confiscated and later returned.
Wheeler was introducing an an emergency ordinance that will give the police greater authority to separate groups during a confrontation, if it’s voted through by the City Council this week.
“I will not allow continued, planned street violence between rival factions to take place in Portland, Oregon,” Wheeler said at a press conference this afternoon, according to Willamette Week. “I have also asked my staff to evaluate options to hold accountable those who recklessly drain our public safety resources by using our city as a venue for planned street violence.”
Portland has become a flashpoint for alt-right violence in the past few years, as armed alt-right groups like Patriot Prayer have regularly faced off against anti-fascist counter protestors during demonstrations and events in the city.
Per Willamette Week:
What began in the spring of 2017 as improvised confrontations in downtown parks—usually marked by insults and culminating in a punch or two—has grown into chaotic rolling brawls that rage the length of a city block. Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys have made Portland their primary destination for antagonizing masked antifascists.
Antifa has often taken the bait, throwing punches and deploying bear spray on helmeted right-wingers who use flag poles as weapons. The fights, which often pit one unlucky person against half a dozen adversaries, are bloody beatings, drawing national scorn.
The wild thing is that the only way Mayor Wheeler found out about the rooftop weapons was while reviewing a draft of the ordinance—nobody thought to tell him before then. Per Oregon Live (emphasis mine):
Wheeler learned about the rooftop weapons cache Monday while reviewing an ordinance drafted for him that is intended to end that pattern, said spokeswoman Sophia June. The ordinance would restrict the time and place protesters may demonstrate in Portland if they have clashed violently before.
Wheeler’s chief of staff, Michael Cox, said the mayor is briefed by police officials after major events, including large protests. The mayor, who is also the city police commissioner, apparently did not learn of the rooftop incident at the briefing following it. Those briefings “might not include every piece of information,” Cox said.
Willamette Week notes that many of the alt-right protestors often come from out-of-town specifically to instigate violence, but city officials rarely stop confrontations before they begin. Just this weekend, a hastily-organized Patriot Prayer march devolved into a street brawl that cops eventually broke up with pepper balls. Police response, when it does happen, has often been disproportionately targeted toward the anti-fascist and leftist protestors.
What’s more, all of this violence is being fueled by bad-faith hysteria on the part of conservative commentators, who have seldom missed an opportunity to call attention to the “antifa mobs.”
Per Willamette Week, the protest that devolved into a brawl was a response to conservative media stoking the flames after a largely peaceful protest against the police shooting of Patrick Kimmons:
Joey Gibson, the leader of Vancouver, Wash.-based protest group Patriot Prayer, organized the march in response to a series of conservative media storiescriticizing Mayor Ted Wheeler and Portland police for a hands-off response to small protests against police brutality last weekend. A couple of videos showing protesters yelling at motorists and standing in the street led Fox News and others to criticize Wheeler for allowing “mob rule” in his city.
According to Oregon Live, the police say both right-wing and leftist protestors have carried weapons, although Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw didn’t specify whether or not anti-fascists often took up overwatch positions with sniper rifles.
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A far right "militiia" group brought weapons to an expected confrontation. It is only a matter of time before this time bomb explodes.
So much for "antifa" being the only threat to peace in the cities of the northwest.
The ''Bundy Bunch'' rides again...
The Pepe the frog costumes are a nice touch. Nothing says I’m a badass like a child’s costume.
This is what happens when the police take a "hands off" approach. These extremist from Both Sides want a conflict.....and when they know of a place that will allow it......It will happen.....It's really that simple.
I think both sides need to grow up.
It sounds to me like the Patriot Prayer thugs don't like Portland being a liberal city so they're going to come in, guns a blazing and turn that city red, red, red.
And the Antifa thugs just can't stand back and watch the Prayer thugs make assholes of themselves. They gotta jump in with both feet and make assholes of themselves.
Protest all you want.....just don't start conflict and Violence....BOTH sides are looking for a fight.....it's not just Patriot Prayer....both sides have the right to Protest.....both sides have the right to defend themselves......but neither side has to right to Start Conflict.....I don't know for sure who is starting these conflicts.....but my guess it is both sides.....The Mayor needs to let the Police do their job and stop this crap before it escalates....keep them separated....
So that doesn't apply to Antifa as well? Why do they hide their faces? It isn't for Halloween....
The thugs are mostly by the left/antifa groups .
A bit over a month ago or so the left and antifa "protested" ICE offices here in Portland .There were no alt right counter protest but there were several reports ofdemonstrators engaging in or threatening violence. Their threats caused A private unrelated business to close because of threats made to employees.
Last week the left/antifa crowd held another protest .Again there was no counter protest the "demonstrators" became violent and caused property damage to innocent bystanders.
This past weekend right wing group staged a march and it was peaceful until guess who showed up. That's right it was the left/antifa and caused violent confrontations.
Seems like violence and antifa are inseperatable companions.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is a "Wimp" !
"Wheeler was introducing an emergency ordinance that will give the police greater authority to separate groups during a confrontation"
ummmmmmm…..drrrrrpppp…….Mr. Wheeler...….ummmmmm……"Patriot Prayer" did that all by themselves, without your proposal.
They were on the roof watching [ deleted ]
What are you talking about?
When was the last time you addressed the topic of an article?
NOW !
Did you not read your own article again ?
March 15, 1985
lol. I think you are right.
Quick....what does "Idea" mean.
Here....have a "Snickers" !
You eat it. You need it more than I do
Damn gun grabbers.
Another non news article, more will follow.
So they broke no laws. Were involved in no conflicts. All had concealed weapons carry permits and gun licenses; but still had their weapons confiscated and did so w/o resistance?
WTF is the author complaining about? Would he have preferred them all to don all black clothing with masks a hoods; a few baseball bats, bike chains, or bear spray; and go down to bash in a few skulls?
Long guns in the hands of unhinged dumbasses on rooftops. What could go wrong?
Nothing ……. absolutely NOTHING went wrong !
I suppose Stephen Paddock could have changed his mind and ‘absolutely nothing’ would have happened in Las Vegas too.
"Goal Post Change".....I claim "Goal Post Change" !
Don’t worry - I didn’t expect you to grasp the truth about human nature. I’m sure you see nothing wrong with rifles on rooftops, ever.
So your majoring in Psychology ?
Again.....using YOUR OWN initial first comment...….NOTHING HAPPENED.
Do you see a problem with bear spray and clubs? What about violence toward your fellow man? Both groups were looking for a fight.....and unfortunately Portlands Mayor doesn't see the need for law and order until it is too late.
We’re done here. Your argument is two slices short of a grilled cheese.
Thank God !
Bayer aspirin works better when "Confused". Try it.
How much sugar do you eat?
40 years worth.
Ssssshhhhhh........Stop.....folks will find out.
Nothing did go wrong. In case you didn't read the article. They didn't violate any law; and even allowed the police to confiscate their guns w/o turning violent. Not sure how the police got away with that one. Patriot Prayer may be assholes; but they are assholes that know gun laws. Wouldn't be surprised if there were a lawsuit against the city over this down the road.
Would you rather have them peacefully protesting up on the rooftop with guns; or down on the street fighting with whatever melee weapons they chose to bring.
Ya think maybe this is the reason that the police confiscated their weapons?
Is it possible that the reason the Antifa protesters are "disproportionately targeted", is they are disproportionately being violent?
And the prayer thugs aren't?
There are no winners and losers here, Tap
I said earlier .....Both sides are looking for trouble....it's not just the right....it's the left as well.......agree?
Yeah....they're both bone heads
I would suggest that
A the permit only included marching on an agreed upon route on public properties which would
B preclude rooftops,
C because they are not public property and could very well have been trespassing.
D Whatever argument the police used, it worked.
I'm going with something chargeable ( trespassing) that was avoided by temporarily handing over their weapons.
So here we have proof of rightwing mobs in action yet the rightwing will bury their heads in the sand and actually say it is the left causing violence with mobs.
They are recommending violence, looking for violence and wanting violence.
Ok I got it, Antifa would have gotten violent if the police weren't there, but decided not to....
And we have one whacko from the other side who is promoting violence.....
Want me to post video from every major city in the us where Antifa got violent despite the cops being there?
One whacko compared to hundreds of whackos?
I know we can dismiss antifa and anyone else on the left as violent despite the massive video evidence. But every person on the right is a violent whacko cause of one idiot.....
OK if you say so...
Funny....I read this as it's the rightie that wants to instigate something but is afraid of the cops
I take it you are going to dismiss everything in the article. So out of all the proud boys only one is nuts?
Yeah, right. he even stated he wanted to antagonize them enough to start fights.
Hell, even the leader of the proud boys is saying that he wants violence.
But, but, but it is only one guy, it is the other sides fault....
Right, not dismissing anything. Nice way to turn it around and obfuscate the point all at the same time....
I have consistently held that there are whackos on both sides. Unfortunately there is strong video evidence that there are whackos from the left all over the country quite willing to do violence at a moments notice even if a few are not willing to take on the police.
Not so much evidence of such on the right side... although they have their moments also....
I know you have clear evidence of one such wacko, which makes everyone on the other side a whacko. but evidence of the thousands of whackos on the left is to be excused by the one on the other side...
that was the point of my post...
But it was a nice try at obfuscation....
Are there idiots on the extreme left? Yes. I do not support antifa and I do not support their tactics. Then again, they are not bussing themselves to conservative areas just to cause problems.
Again you are saying that one side had thousands while the other side only has one. So who is trying to obfuscate?
Sorry but I am more upset about people on rooftops with rifles aimed at people than someone that picks up a rock in the heat of the moment.
Your whole comment was an exercise in obfuscation
Ok....
Compilation
Berkeley
Portland
A short compilation
More
Berlin
Italy
Cologne
Need more, there are literally tens of thousands (86,000+ to be more exact) of examples if antifa violence all over the net. Show me any from conservative that got violent before they were attacked?
You cant;
THEY JUST DON'T EXIST!!!!!
That's hilarious. Besides the long list of right wing inspired terrorists I've posted many times, I've also seen many videos of the alt-right using violence, from firing a gun at the feet of counter protesters to ramming their car into the peaceful protesters killing one and injuring dozens in Charlottesville. I'm at work and can't link youtube at the moment but I'm sure there will be many others who can share with you all the right wing violence you seem to think doesn't exist.
I'm sure in the last 19 hours your no longer at a locked out work station at some point.
And it seems that your compatriots haven't provided the video you are sure exists....
Maybe you can grace us with yours?