At least 14 people were arrested at a free speech rally in Portland, Oregon after anarchist antifascists (or “antifa”) showed up to counter-protest, resulting in violent clashes between the two groups.
The pro-Trump free speech rally was a pre-planned conservative event in Portland. It featured Kyle Chapman, aka “Based Stick Man,” who became internet famous for hitting an antifa protester on the head with a stick.
Antifa is a far-left group committed to fighting what they see as “fascism,” including the fascism of some Trump supporters. Antifa, usually masked and in all black, regularly engages in violence and intimidation against those they disagree with. (RELATED: Berkeley Mayor Publicly Belongs To Violent Leftist Group)
Antifa, other anti-Trump protesters and Trump supporters clashed in Portland’s Chapman Square, and Portland police were reportedly attacked by the anti-Trump protesters:
Bricks, motors, and other projectiles are continuing to be thrown at officers in Chapman Square.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2017
Fourteen people were arrested, KOIN6 reports.
One reporter at the scene tweeted videos of flash bangs being used by police to disperse a crowd:
Tasting some sort of gas, hearing apparent flash-bang grenades. pic.twitter.com/dNZtsGLN4F
— Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) June 4, 2017
Breaking 911 reported that an antifa member may have been on the roof with “bags of bricks,” but were stopped by police before they could attack others:
#BREAKING: ‘Antifa’ Attack Foiled By Police In Portland, Unidentified Suspects on Rooftop Had Bags of Brickshttps://t.co/0QNOXmYaXS pic.twitter.com/Km0wUQI1sF
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 5, 2017
Recently, Portland was the site of a horrific crime after Jeremy Christian allegedly killed two men who intervened after he began yelling anti-Muslim slurs.
Christian is being portrayed by some liberal media outlets as Donald Trump supporter or conservative extremist.
In fact, Christian’s Facebook posts indicate he didn’t vote for Trump in the 2016 election, and actually posted about supporting Bernie Sanders and Jill Stein, as well as wanting to “reign in the Prison/Military Industrial Complexes.” (RELATED: Portland Killer Is An Anti-Circumcision, Bernie Sanders Supporter)