[ The atmosphere in Portland was also tense due to the recent arrest of Christian for the train attack.]
On August 6, 2017, smaller crowds appeared for a Patriot Prayer's Salmon Street Springs "Freedom March" in Portland. The event, met by counter protesters, followed the well-established pattern of shouting and chants from both sides with a few arrests.
August "Freedom Rally Seattle"
On August 13, 2017, the group held the "Freedom Rally Seattle" at Westlake Park Westlake Park can mean:
*Westlake Park (Seattle), a park in Seattle, Washington
* MacArthur Park, formerly Westlake Park, in Los Angeles, California
*Westlake Park (Houston)
Westlake Park is a office complex located in the Energy Corridor, Housto ...
with a large police presence to keep thousands of counter-protesters away. The concurrent events came one day after the death and injuries in the Unite the Right rally
The Unite the Right rally was a white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, from August 11 to 12, 2017. Marchers included members of the alt-right, neo-Confederates, neo-fascists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, ...
in Charlottesville and tensions were high with arrests of counter protesters made by police.
August San Francisco events
Patriot Prayer planned an August 26, 2017 event to be held at Crissy Field
Crissy Field is a public recreation area on the northern shore of the San Francisco Peninsula in California, United States, located just east of the Golden Gate Bridge. It includes restored tidal marsh and beaches.
Crissy Field is a former Un ...
in San Francisco. Crissy Field, administered by the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
, granted Patriot Prayer a permit to march. The city called in its entire police force in anticipation of unrest similar to previous Patriot Prayer rallies in Seattle and Portland. Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia Pelosi (; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has represented in the United States House of ...
said the event was intended to be a "white supremacist rally". Police Chief Bill Scott and Board of Supervisors President London Breed
London Nicole Breed (born August 11, 1974) is an American politician who is the 45th and current mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. She was supervisor for District 5 and was president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Board ...
wrote a letter to express their outrage over the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
's decision to allow the rally. Patriot Prayer security for the event was to be handled by armed Oath Keepers
Oath Keepers is an American far-right anti-government militia whose leaders have been convicted of violently opposing the government of the United States, including the transfer of Presidential power as prescribed by the US Constitution. ...
. Mayor Ed Lee
Edwin Mah Lee (Chinese: 李孟賢; May 5, 1952 – December 12, 2017) was an American politician and attorney who served as the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his death. He was the first Asian American to hold the office.
Born in ...
condemned the event, referring to is as part of a "shameful, anti-American trend of hate-filled extremist rallies." Lee added that "San Francisco does not welcome outside agitators whose messages of hate have the sole purpose of inciting violence." After it attracted over 1,000 counter-protesters, Patriot Prayer canceled their event and opted to hold a press conference at Alamo Square Park
Alamo Square is a residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco, California, in the Western Addition. Its boundaries are Buchanan Street on the east, Turk Street on the north, Baker Street on the west, and Page Street Street on the south.
...
. In rapid response, the city of San Francisco built fences around the park and closed it to the public to prevent violence, which prompted Gibson to also cancel that event. Gibson stated that Patriot Prayer members would attend a “No to Marxism” rally near the University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
; that event was also called off by its organizer. ''Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' reported that many feared a repeat of the deadly clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters that had occurred at the Unite the Right rally
The Unite the Right rally was a white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, from August 11 to 12, 2017. Marchers included members of the alt-right, neo-Confederates, neo-fascists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, ...
in Charlottesville earlier that month. The counter-demonstrations across the San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...
went ahead peacefully with most participants opting to hold a large dance party instead of a violent confrontation.
The news of a planned Patriot Prayer press conference in San Francisco's Alamo Square Park
Alamo Square is a residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco, California, in the Western Addition. Its boundaries are Buchanan Street on the east, Turk Street on the north, Baker Street on the west, and Page Street Street on the south.
...
drew counter-protesters to the area. The group, which had already canceled a planned rally at Crissy Field due to alleged safety concerns, held the press conference in Pacifica instead. Prior to the event, Gibson denounced white supremacists saying: "Don't show up, you're not welcome." Group organizers arrived at Crissy Field later that afternoon to talk with counter-protesters.
September "Peaceful Portland Freedom March"
For the September 10, 2017, "Peaceful Portland Freedom March" in Portland, Gibson asked followers take a new non-violent approach, although not all appeared willing to go along. Counter-protests appeared to arrive at a number of different stances that were dependent on the organization. Patriot Prayer announced changes, including the collection of charitable relief for the victims of the Eagle Creek fire
The Eagle Creek Fire was a destructive wildfire in the Columbia River Gorge, largely in the U.S. state of Oregon, with smaller spot-fires in Washington. The fire was started on September 2, 2017, by a 15-year-old boy igniting fireworks durin ...
and a name change for a rally to "Peaceful Vancouver Freedom March". The small rallies drew large counter-protest crowds in both Portland and Vancouver with several arrests and the detention of a pickup truck driver who sped through a crowd of counter-protesters. Among those drawn to the rallies were the militia-style Three Percenters
The Three Percenters, also styled 3 Percenters, 3%ers and III%ers, are an American and Canadian far-right anti-government militia.
The group advocates gun ownership rights and resistance to the U.S. federal government. The group's name d ...
and the Proud Boys, a white nationalist group.
September event Berkley, California
A September 26, 2017 Patriot Prayer demonstration near Sproul Plaza
Sproul Plaza (pronounced ) is one center of student activity at the University of California, Berkeley. It is divided into two sections: Upper Sproul and Lower Sproul. They are vertically separated by and linked by a set of stairs.
History
S ...
resulted in violence between the group and left-wing activists, including BAMN
The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, commonly shortened to By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), is a militant, American Far-left politics, far-left group that partic ...
. The demonstration continued in a march to People's Park, where the speakers included Kyle "Stickman" Chapman, a self-described American nationalist
American nationalism, is a form of civic, ethnic, cultural or economic influences
*
*
*
*
*
*
* found in the United States. Essentially, it indicates the aspects that characterize and distinguish the United States as an autonomous political co ...
, who claimed there was "a war on whites" and a "battle for Berkeley". Police made three arrests, including Yvette Felarca.
2018–2019
January counter-demonstration at the Women's March Seattle
Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys appeared at the 2018 Women's March
The 2018 Women's March was a global protest that occurred on January 20, 2018, on the anniversary of the 2017 Women's March.
About
In 2018, women's groups across the United States coordinated mass rallies, attracting hundreds of thousands of ...
in Seattle. Led by Tusitala Toese, the Proud Boys were seen wearing shirts that targeted feminists as "parasites of the patriarchy" while both groups shouted misogynistic slurs at the women attending the event.
February "Freedom Rally" Seattle
On February 10, 2018, Patriot Prayer was invited by the University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...
College Republicans
College Republicans are college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States. Many members belong to the organization College Republican National Committee (CRNC), College Republicans United (CRU), or various in ...
to speak at their "Freedom Rally" in Red Square
Red Square ( rus, Красная площадь, Krasnaya ploshchad', ˈkrasnəjə ˈploɕːətʲ) is one of the oldest and largest squares in Moscow, the capital of Russia. Owing to its historical significance and the adjacent historical build ...
. Several groups organized counter-protests, leading to skirmishes. Five people were arrested.
May Day rally Seattle
Gibson held a Patriot Prayer rally in downtown Seattle on May 1, 2018, during the annual left-wing events for May Day. At the rally, Gibson openly endorsed the Proud Boys (several of whom shared the stage with him) and spoke about his campaign as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. The 2018 event was accompanied by a heavy police presence and remained largely peaceful.
June rallies in Portland
On June 3, 2018, Patriot Prayer and anti-fascists fought in downtown Portland parks where police made four arrests for disorderly conduct. Participants threw rocks, bottles, ball bearings, and fireworks at each other. The event was organized by Patriot Prayer to counter a rally led by Empower Portland Alliance and Direct Action Alliance, an event held to protest police violence and commemorate the anniversary of an incident where Portland police detained 200 people for several hours. In response to Patriot Prayer, local antifa groups organized another counter-protest, calling this third rally "Call to Resist Patriot Prayer Bringing Nazis to Portland." Multnomah County
Multnomah County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 815,428. Multnomah County is part of the Portland–Vancouver– Hillsboro, OR–WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thou ...
sheriff's deputy and demonstrators deployed pepper spray.
On June 30, 2018, a Patriot Prayer rally with 150 supporters clashed with anti-fascist activists waiting at a street barricade. Police observed “assaults, criminal behavior, and projectiles being thrown". Reports suggested that the counter-protesters initiated the violence with thrown projectiles. Police, who declared the Patriot Prayer rally a riot, fired non-lethal ammunition towards counter-protestors and arrested 9 people. Prior to the June 30, 2018 rally, Gibson issued a national call for participation that over 60 Proud Boys answered. Video showed Proud Boys member Ethan Nordean shoving one counter protester to the ground before another approached with a metal baton. Due to shin guards on his forearms, Nordean deflected the baton, then punched the man in the face, knocking him to the ground unconscious. According to a police report, the counter-protester was hospitalized with a concussion. Video of Nordean assaulting the counter-protester was utilized as a recruitment tool by the Proud Boys. When Nordean appeared on the July 17 edition of InfoWars
''InfoWars'' is an American far-right conspiracy theory and fake news website owned by Alex Jones. It was founded in 1999, and operates under Free Speech Systems LLC.
Talk shows and other content for the site are created primarily in studi ...
' ''The Alex Jones Show
Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American far-right and alt-right radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas, which the Genesis Communications Network broadcas ...
,'' the video played continuously in the background while he promoted the next Portland march scheduled for August 4 stating "if you want to get involved, there is no better time than now."
August "Gibson for Senate Freedom March" Portland
On August 4, 2018, the "Gibson for Senate Freedom March", which included members of the Proud Boys
The Proud Boys is an American far-right, neo-fascist, and exclusively male organization that promotes and engages in political violence in the United States.Far-right:
*
*
Fascist:
*
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*
*
*
Men only:
*
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*
Political violence:
*
*
* It has ...
, was held in Portland along Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a park located in downtown Portland, Oregon, along the Willamette River. After the 1974 removal of Harbor Drive, a major milestone in the freeway removal movement, the park was opened to the public in 1978 ...
. It attracted counter-protestors from labor groups, a local Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a Left-wing politics, left-wing Democratic Socialists of America#Tendencies within the DSA, multi-tendency Socialism, socialist and Labour movement, labor-oriented political organization. Its roots ...
chapter, clergy, anitfa activists, and community groups. Hundreds of police in riot gear, from the Portland Police Bureau
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officially the Portland Bureau of Police, is the law enforcement agency of the city of Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. While oversight of Portland's bureaus shifts among the five City ...
(PPB) and the Oregon State Police
The Oregon State Police (OSP) is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OSP enforces all of Oregon's criminal laws and assists local law enforcement agencies. Terri Davie has served as Superintendent since November 1, 2020.
The ...
, used rubber bullets and flashbangs in an attempt to keep the opposing groups apart. Police, were reportedly hit by rocks and bottles. They confiscated weapons including fireworks, long sticks, baseball bats, pepper spray and home-made shields. Patriot Prayer attracted some 400 supporters for the rally from across the nation, with many wearing Proud Boys colors, Trump-branded merchandise, InfoWars merchandise, or the slogan "RWDS" (Right-Wing Death Squad). Patriot Prayer member and known brawler Tusitala “Tiny” Toese was seen at the event wearing a "Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (, , , ; 25 November 1915 – 10 December 2006) was a Chilean general who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, first as the leader of the Military Junta of Chile from 1973 to 1981, being declared President of ...
Did Nothing Wrong" shirt.
Portland police later reported they had encountered Patriot Prayer members with loaded firearms on the roof of a parking garage overlooking the August 4 protest site. Although the individuals had concealed carry permits, police confiscated the weapons and cleared the roof prior to the protest scheduled for the afternoon.
August "Liberty or Death" rally Seattle
On August 18, 2018, Patriot Prayer and the Washington Three Percenters
The Three Percenters, also styled 3 Percenters, 3%ers and III%ers, are an American and Canadian far-right anti-government militia.
The group advocates gun ownership rights and resistance to the U.S. federal government. The group's name d ...
held a "Liberty or Death" rally in Seattle. The right-wing supporters, some armed and in tactical gear, were met with a counter protest from Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Radical Women
Radical Women (RW) is a socialist feminist grassroots activist organization affiliated with the Freedom Socialist Party. It has branches in Seattle, Washington, and Melbourne, Australia.
History
Radical Women emerged in Seattle from a "Free Uni ...
and the Freedom Socialist Party
The Freedom Socialist Party is a left-wing socialist political party with a revolutionary feminist philosophy based in the United States. It views the struggles of women and minorities as part of the struggle of the working class. It emerged fro ...
. Three people were arrested.
On November 17, 2018, an offshoot of Patriot Prayer scheduled a Him Too rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza
Terry Schrunk Plaza is a park located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States.
Description and history
Located across from City Hall, the park is named after former Portland mayor Terry Schrunk and neighbors the Plaza Blocks consisting of C ...
in downtown Portland and was met with counter protestors.
2019–2020
January doxing campaign Portland
In January 2019, Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, Proud Boy Tusitala "Tiny" Toese and former Proud Boy Russell Schultz initiated a campaign to tear off the bandanas of antifa demonstrators to take pictures of their faces, in order to doxx them. The "demasking" announcement followed an altercation when Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys members attempted to invade a chapter meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a Left-wing politics, left-wing Democratic Socialists of America#Tendencies within the DSA, multi-tendency Socialism, socialist and Labour movement, labor-oriented political organization. Its roots ...
. After being denied entry to the meeting, the group clashed with nearby anti-fascist activists and claimed to be attacked.
May Day brawl at Cider Riot Portland
On May 1, 2019, following a full day of public demonstrations and counter-protests in Portland for International Workers Day
International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1 May, ...
or May Day, a brawl between Patriot Prayer and anti-fascist cider house patrons took place outside Cider Riot in the early evening. A police detective described video of Gibson, "taunting" and threatening members of antifa and later “physically pushing” a woman before she was hit with a baton and knocked unconscious by someone else.
Gibson, and five other Patriot Prayer affiliates were arrested for their actions in connection with the May Day riot, during which Patriot Prayer member Ian Kramer beat a Cider Riot patron unconscious and broke her vertebrae.
A Navy veteran referred to as "Ben", who had infiltrated Patriot Prayer and took videos of the violence at their rallies, was expected to testify at Gibson's trial.[Zielinsky, Alex (August 26, 2019]
"Undercover in Patriot Prayer: Insights From a Vancouver Democrat Who's Been Working Against the Far-Right Group from the Inside"
''Portland Mercury
''Portland Mercury'' is an alternative bi-weekly newspaper and media company founded in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. It has a sibling publication in Seattle, Washington, called '' The Stranger''.
Contributors and staff
Editor-in-chief: Wm. Steven ...
''
2020–2021
In January 2020, Gibson appeared at a gun rights rally held on Martin Luther King Jr. day in Richmond, VA.
Events related to George Floyd Protests in Portland
On August 29, 2020, Aaron Danielson, a Patriot Prayer supporter, was shot and killed after participating in a pro-Trump "caravan" during the ongoing George Floyd Protests in Portland. The alleged shooter, Michael Reinoehl, charged by police with second-degree murder, and a self-described antifa supporter, was shot and killed by police.
COVID-19 restriction protests
In late 2020, Patriot Prayer organized a rally to protest COVID-19 public health restrictions in Washington state. Gibson participated in and promoted several events that took place at state Capitol buildings and governor's mansions in Washington and Oregon. In November, he led a rally at the private residence of a Washington state Liquor and Cannabis Board
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, formerly the Washington State Liquor Control Board, is an administrative agency of the State of Washington. The Liquor and Cannabis Board is part of the executive branch and reports to the Governor. ...
officer, in opposition to business restrictions imposed in Washington state for the coronavirus pandemic.
At December 2020 rally at the Oregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capitol, Salem. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 ...
in Salem organized by Patriot Prayer, protesters used chemical agents against troopers and some entered the building unlawfully, resulting in several arrests.
Relationship with the Portland police
''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' reported that Lt. Niiya told Gibson in December 2017 that the police would not execute a warrant for the arrest of Toese. In a text, Niiya wrote: "Just make sure he doesn’t do anything which may draw our attention. ..If he still has the warrant in the system (I don’t run you guys so I don’t personally know) the officers could arrest him. I don’t see a need to arrest on the warrant unless there is a reason." He also indicated that police officers had ignored previous arrest warrants for Toese.
In February 2019, ''Willamette Week
''Willamette Week'' (''WW'') is an alternative weekly newspaper and a website published in Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1974. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business, and culture.
History
Early history
''Willame ...
'' reported that Portland police lieutenant Jeff Niiya kept in close touch with Gibson, and provided him with intelligence about the anti-fascist movement in the city. He also advised Gibson on how a Patriot Prayer member could avoid arrest. On February 21, a public "listening session" convened by the Portland Police Bureau
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officially the Portland Bureau of Police, is the law enforcement agency of the city of Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. While oversight of Portland's bureaus shifts among the five City ...
consisted in large part of strong criticism of the bureau.
On March 1, 2019, ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' obtained video which showed Portland police officers approaching Gibson at a June 3, 2018 rally, telling him that although Niiya had probable cause to arrest several group members, they could avoid arrest by leaving. Officers informed Gibson that Tusitala "Tiny" Toese and another man would be arrested, and told him that they had already arrested members of "the other side". Five days after the rally, Toese and Proud Boys
The Proud Boys is an American far-right, neo-fascist, and exclusively male organization that promotes and engages in political violence in the United States.Far-right:
*
*
Fascist:
*
*
*
*
*
Men only:
*
*
*
Political violence:
*
*
* It has ...
member Donovan Flippo, allegedly attacked a man in Portland, an incident for which they were indicted for by a grand jury.[Wilson, James (March 1, 2019]
"Exclusive: video shows Portland officers made deal with far-right group leader "
''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''
Portland's Independent Police Review investigated Niiya and cleared him in September 2019, determining that he was gathering information on the groups and trying to defuse potential clashes with his advice.
See also
* Andy Ngo
Andy Cuong Ngo ( ; born ) is an American conservative journalist, author, and right-wing social media influencer known for covering and video-recording demonstrators. He is the editor-at-large of '' The Post Millennial'', a Canadian conserva ...
References
{{Commons category, Patriot Prayer
2016 establishments in Oregon
Alt-right organizations
Conservative organizations in the United States
Organizations based in Portland, Oregon
Political organizations established in 2016
Political organizations based in the United States
Patriot movement