A series of tense and violent dueling rallies by left- and right-wing protesters took over Portland’s downtown core near the Justice Center on Saturday.
Far-right organizers with ties to fascist groups organized a noon event with the stated goal of “saying no to Marxism” at Terry Schrunk Plaza, drawing multiple plans for counter-protests from left-wing and anti-fascist groups. Another event, called the “Mother of All Back The Blue Rallies” launched at the Justice Center at noon.
By 12:30 p.m., protesters and cars blocked Southwest 3rd Avenue between Salmon and Madison Streets downtown.
Hundreds of people filled the park, streets and sidewalks representing both sides, and throughout the morning and early afternoon, both sides fairly equally used a variety of weapons and tossed numerous objects at each other.
At least one city official voiced concern about the chance for violence as the anti-Marxism event was organized and promoted by known far-right organizers in the area. And minutes before it began, Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted warnings for both sides to “peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights.”
After about an hour of the increasingly tense standoff, no police were present on the scene.
Some of the people involved in organizing the event, as well as promoting it, are familiar faces in Portland, as they were involved in the infamous brawls between protesters in recent years.
Tusitala “Tiny” Toese was seen at the Saturday protest. The right-wing activist who is known for brawling at Portland protests was barred in January from participating in future city demonstrations for the next two years. He was also sentenced to two years’ probation and 80 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, for his role in a violent altercation prompted by political differences.
Court records appear to show an arrest warrant remains out Toese on an alleged probation violation. A Multnomah County Circuit Court hearing set for Aug. 27 on the alleged probation violation was canceled, according to court records.
A number of other protesters appeared to be members of the Proud Boys, a right-wing fraternal organization. They wore signature jersey shirts — in some cases noting “Battle Ground, WA.”
Local left-wing groups like the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Popular Mobilization have announced plans to oppose.
Portland has a long history of anti-fascist activism and people not associated with those two groups will also likely show up to oppose the right-wing rally. The main organizer and some of those promoting the far-right event have documented histories with fascist and white supremacist groups. The ties are so well-documented that Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty released a statement on Twitter Friday evening.
“Our office has received information and is monitoring the rally being organized by [alt-right] and white nationalist agitators this Saturday at the Justice Center,” Hardesty said in the statement. “We vehemently denounce any white nationalist organizing and recruiting in our City.”
Within the first 15 minutes of the noon rally launching, protesters chanted “USA, USA, USA” and waved American flags on the steps of the Justice Center as a handful of cars drove by and honked in support. Across the street in the park, Portland activist Demetria Hester chanted “Black Lives Matter” in a megaphone on Saturday. Hester has been a regular presence at nightly protests as a leader of the Moms United for Black Lives group.
Video snippets on social media showed a handful of protesters from both sides clashing, pushing each other and in one case, grabbing for the others’ flags and “BLM” signs. Numerous people had shields, wood or metal batons and some on both sides carried paint ball guns. An Oregonian/OregonLive reporter at the protest heard the sizzle of a taser in the pro-police crowd.
Early on, Portland police used loudspeakers to ask that groups remain peaceful and “self monitor for criminal behavior.” By around 12:30 p.m., police asked the groups to separate.
Facing off on two sides of the street, attendees on both sides complained of getting maced and others said people were spraying a liquid they thought was urine through a squirt gun. Protesters on both sides threw rocks, water bottles and shot paint balls. A few physical fights broke out between the crowds and at least one person appeared to be injured when they were hit in the arm by an explosive device.
Medics worked both sides of the protest, helping people who were injured.
Just before 1:30 p.m., Portland police announced over the loudspeaker that firearms, shields and other weapons had been seen in the crowd as well as criminal behavior. If it continued, they announced, protesters could face arrest, citations or force. But no officers were seen in the area.
About 1:45 p.m., the right-wing crowd rushed left-wing protesters, one of them spraying mace indiscriminately as they pushed into Chapman Square. As the pro-police group quickly retreated, one in the crowed tossed a commercial grade firework into the opposing group.
Members of the right-wing group jumped on the “Snack Van,” a regular fixture at nightly Black Lives Matter protests. Protesters tore the door off the van and broke the driver’s side window.
People in a pickup and hatchback carrying Trump flags — the hatchback also featured a Confederate battle flag — drove around the block intermittently to jeers from the crowd.
A little after 2 p.m., the right-wing group appeared to be leaving, moving west toward Southwest Columbia Street. Counter protesters followed them into a parking garage and faced off. At least one video streamer said he saw guns drawn on people inside the parking garage, however it was difficult to independently verify. An Oregonian/OregonLive reporter saw one of the trucks leaving the parking garage crash through the parking lot barricade.
Federal agents stand in line opposite of a group of protesters at Terry Schrunk Plaza during a Portland protest. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian
Not long after the tense standoff in the parking lot, the crowds dwindled to about 200 who gathered to chant “Black Lives Matter” chants in front of federal officers gathered at Terry Schrunk Plaza. Protesters stayed in the park for about an hour also yelling “Cops and klan go hand in hand.” Around 3 p.m., Portland police announced that federal officers had declared the gathering an unlawful assembly,” to which a protester responded via megaphone: “This is the people of Portland. This has been declared an unlawful fascist invasion.”
Federal officers slowly began pushing the crowd out of the park to the north. They officers created a line at Southwest Madison and Third Avenue, but after a short period went into the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt federal building. Protesters cheered as they left, chanting “We pushed back the fash (fascists) and the feds.”
The summer’s other pro-police rally: The last rally put together by right-wing organizers in Portland on Aug. 15, saw right-wing pro-police protesters firing paintballs and using pepper spray on counter-protesters.
After counter-protesters chased the pro-police group into a downtown parking garage, police say pro-police protester Skyler Jernigan, 27, of Milwaukie, fired two live rounds toward counter-protesters from a vehicle. Jernigan was arrested last week and charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, recklessly endangering another person (with a weapon) and discharging a firearm in the city.
Postal service rally: Several groups were also out on Saturday morning rallying for the U.S. Postal Service, a few biking by the pro-Trump group on their way to stage at the post office on Southwest Fifth Avenue.
Cheering “Whose lives matter? Black lives matter,” they discussed protesting for the post office and against the pro-police protesters.
“We can do both! Why?” one in the crowd asked.
“Because it’s intersectional!” several in the group responded.
About a dozen people rallied at the Fifth Avenue post office, while at least nine other pro-post office rallies were held in the 97201 ZIP code on Saturday, according to Craig Loftin, 69, an organizer.
Statewide organizers reported 25 gatherings in Oregon, joining more than 800 nationwide. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and State Sen. Shemia Fagan attended one of the larger local rallies of 100 supporters at the Midway post office in Portland’s outer east side.
Saturday night plans: A “direct action march,” in support of police and prison abolition is also planned for Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Normandale Park in Northeast Portland. That event more closely resembles the marches through Portland opposing racism and police brutality happening nightly since late May, when George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police.
Friday night declared riot: The most recent “direct action march” ended in a riot declaration Friday night as Portland police dispersed a crowd with munitions and force. Some members of the crowd had thrown bottles, eggs and paint balloons prior to the dispersal. Three police cars parked near where protesters gathered were also vandalized.
— K. Rambo | krambo@oregonian.com | @k_rambo_
— Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook
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