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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/patriot-prayer-to-carry-guns-at-portland-rally-as-fears-of-violence-rise
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| Patriot Prayer to carry guns at Portland rally as fears of violence rise | Patriot Prayer to carry guns at Portland rally as fears of violence rise |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Rightwing group Patriot Prayer went into Saturday’s rally in Portland, Oregon, promising to carry guns in a city park, and to attempt to infiltrate the ranks of anti-fascist counter-protesters. | Rightwing group Patriot Prayer went into Saturday’s rally in Portland, Oregon, promising to carry guns in a city park, and to attempt to infiltrate the ranks of anti-fascist counter-protesters. |
| Fears of violent protest at the rally have been rising. | Fears of violent protest at the rally have been rising. |
| In Facebook videos in the days leading up it, Joey Gibson, a rightwing Senate candidate who founded Patriot Prayer, said that “there’s nothing strange” about the group’s habit of carrying concealed firearms into political protests. | In Facebook videos in the days leading up it, Joey Gibson, a rightwing Senate candidate who founded Patriot Prayer, said that “there’s nothing strange” about the group’s habit of carrying concealed firearms into political protests. |
| He also said that the Proud Boy Russell Schultz would be coordinating attempts to infiltrate the ranks of masked “black bloc” anti-fascist protesters. | He also said that the Proud Boy Russell Schultz would be coordinating attempts to infiltrate the ranks of masked “black bloc” anti-fascist protesters. |
| Portland police bureau (PPB) announced Friday that there would be a significant law enforcement presence at the site, and that they would carry out weapons checks at the entrances to Tom McCall Waterfront Park. | Portland police bureau (PPB) announced Friday that there would be a significant law enforcement presence at the site, and that they would carry out weapons checks at the entrances to Tom McCall Waterfront Park. |
| A PPB spokesman told the Guardian, however, that they would not confiscate firearms from holders of Oregon concealed handgun licenses (CHL). Only CHL holders may carry loaded weapons in public areas in Portland. | A PPB spokesman told the Guardian, however, that they would not confiscate firearms from holders of Oregon concealed handgun licenses (CHL). Only CHL holders may carry loaded weapons in public areas in Portland. |
| On Saturday, as people gathered they saw a significant police presence that included bomb-sniffing dogs and weapons screening checkpoints. Many of those gathering are expected to be from out of state. | |
| After questioning from the Guardian, the City of Portland released a legal opinion from the city attorney that said that an anti-paramilitary statute was “of limited utility but it is certainly one to keep in mind as facts develop”. | After questioning from the Guardian, the City of Portland released a legal opinion from the city attorney that said that an anti-paramilitary statute was “of limited utility but it is certainly one to keep in mind as facts develop”. |
| The city attorney added that there was no evidence of any group planning or training in the unlawful use of firearms, but that “it is a tool to keep in mind should we in the future have evidence that a group is intending to engage in these behaviors”. | The city attorney added that there was no evidence of any group planning or training in the unlawful use of firearms, but that “it is a tool to keep in mind should we in the future have evidence that a group is intending to engage in these behaviors”. |
| The chair of the Multnomah County GOP, James Buchal, called on Porltand’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, to “provide protection” for Gibson and his rally in a press release. | The chair of the Multnomah County GOP, James Buchal, called on Porltand’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, to “provide protection” for Gibson and his rally in a press release. |
| Buchal, who last year invited militia groups to protect Republican events in the city, said that the mayor had given Portland over to “leftist mobs”. | Buchal, who last year invited militia groups to protect Republican events in the city, said that the mayor had given Portland over to “leftist mobs”. |
| On 30 June, Gibson’s last rally degenerated into a riot, and the incident became a cause célèbre on the right. | On 30 June, Gibson’s last rally degenerated into a riot, and the incident became a cause célèbre on the right. |
| Far-right media outlets, such as Alex Jones’s conspiracist Infowars network, descended on Portland on Friday. Infowars videos criticised Portland’s homeless, and demonised “antifa” protesters. | Far-right media outlets, such as Alex Jones’s conspiracist Infowars network, descended on Portland on Friday. Infowars videos criticised Portland’s homeless, and demonised “antifa” protesters. |
| Almost a year on from the death of the activist Heather Heyer, as she protested a gathering of white nationalists in Virginia, some groups are warning the protest on Saturday risks turning into “another Charlottesville”. | Almost a year on from the death of the activist Heather Heyer, as she protested a gathering of white nationalists in Virginia, some groups are warning the protest on Saturday risks turning into “another Charlottesville”. |
| Saturday’s rally is the 16th event organised in Portland by the group since April 2017. | Saturday’s rally is the 16th event organised in Portland by the group since April 2017. |
| The Patriot Prayer rally in June, was declared a riot by Portland police after counter-protesters and rally-goers exchanged missiles. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security fired nonlethal rounds and the march through downtown Portland degenerated into ugly brawls. | The Patriot Prayer rally in June, was declared a riot by Portland police after counter-protesters and rally-goers exchanged missiles. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security fired nonlethal rounds and the march through downtown Portland degenerated into ugly brawls. |
| Video from the event shows large groups of rightwing protesters kicking and punching lone, prone counter-protesters. One video, widely shared online by rightwingers, shows the Proud Boy Ethan Nordean flooring an anti-fascist assailant with a single punch. | Video from the event shows large groups of rightwing protesters kicking and punching lone, prone counter-protesters. One video, widely shared online by rightwingers, shows the Proud Boy Ethan Nordean flooring an anti-fascist assailant with a single punch. |
| As in previous rallies, Patriot Prayer claimed leftwing provocation. | As in previous rallies, Patriot Prayer claimed leftwing provocation. |
| In the weeks since that rally, Gibson has promised that buses carrying attendees from Washington state to Portland for their “freedom march” will be manned with armed guards. | In the weeks since that rally, Gibson has promised that buses carrying attendees from Washington state to Portland for their “freedom march” will be manned with armed guards. |
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