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| New Protests in Portland as ‘Proud Boys’ Group Descends on City | New Protests in Portland as ‘Proud Boys’ Group Descends on City |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| PORTLAND, Ore. — Members of the right-wing Proud Boys and their supporters rallied in a Portland park on Saturday as leftist activists launched their own counter-rallies, raising the temperature of a city already on edge as officials pleaded for the ralliers to refrain from violence. | PORTLAND, Ore. — Members of the right-wing Proud Boys and their supporters rallied in a Portland park on Saturday as leftist activists launched their own counter-rallies, raising the temperature of a city already on edge as officials pleaded for the ralliers to refrain from violence. |
| Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in advance of the arrival of the Proud Boys, an all-male group whose members — many of whom support President Trump — often engage in provocations, threats or fighting with opponents at their events. | Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in advance of the arrival of the Proud Boys, an all-male group whose members — many of whom support President Trump — often engage in provocations, threats or fighting with opponents at their events. |
| “The pattern of these particular groups is clear: to intimidate, instigate and inflame,” Gov. Brown said on Friday. | “The pattern of these particular groups is clear: to intimidate, instigate and inflame,” Gov. Brown said on Friday. |
| Ms. Brown’s declaration cleared the way for a major law enforcement presence that so far was largely succeeding in keeping the dueling groups apart, but there were fears that people traveling to the park with violent intentions would nonetheless find a way to sow chaos. | Ms. Brown’s declaration cleared the way for a major law enforcement presence that so far was largely succeeding in keeping the dueling groups apart, but there were fears that people traveling to the park with violent intentions would nonetheless find a way to sow chaos. |
| Downtown Portland has been rocked by protests this summer, first over the police killings of Black people, and later over the Trump administration’s move to send federal agents to the city in an attempt to quell the demonstrations. And demonstrations across the United States kicked up again this week after a grand jury in Kentucky decided not to indict either of the two Louisville police officers who shot Breonna Taylor, a Black emergency room technician, in her own apartment. | Downtown Portland has been rocked by protests this summer, first over the police killings of Black people, and later over the Trump administration’s move to send federal agents to the city in an attempt to quell the demonstrations. And demonstrations across the United States kicked up again this week after a grand jury in Kentucky decided not to indict either of the two Louisville police officers who shot Breonna Taylor, a Black emergency room technician, in her own apartment. |
| As a series of speeches for the Proud Boys event was getting underway at midday at Delta Park on the north end of Portland, more than 200 people — many with protective gear and plastic shields and some with guns — were mingling, drinking and shouting. Some in the crowd broke into expletive-filled chants against antifa, the loose group of activists who sometimes use violence to stop people from promoting views they deem fascist or racist. A pile of wooden shields sat stacked in a parking lot. | As a series of speeches for the Proud Boys event was getting underway at midday at Delta Park on the north end of Portland, more than 200 people — many with protective gear and plastic shields and some with guns — were mingling, drinking and shouting. Some in the crowd broke into expletive-filled chants against antifa, the loose group of activists who sometimes use violence to stop people from promoting views they deem fascist or racist. A pile of wooden shields sat stacked in a parking lot. |
| There were several confrontations when people suspected by members of the crowd of being antifa activists walked into the area. Large groups of people swarmed at least two men and pushed them toward the edge of the park. Even as some of the Proud Boys leaders encouraged their followers to leave the men alone, some people stayed and continued to argue. | There were several confrontations when people suspected by members of the crowd of being antifa activists walked into the area. Large groups of people swarmed at least two men and pushed them toward the edge of the park. Even as some of the Proud Boys leaders encouraged their followers to leave the men alone, some people stayed and continued to argue. |
| A few Portland police officers, who had largely stayed away from the center of the event, briefly entered the park and tried to defuse the skirmishes. A helicopter circled overhead as the event began with the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, and a host of speakers began condemning the racial justice protesters who have gone nightly into Portland’s streets, as well as the city’s leaders. | A few Portland police officers, who had largely stayed away from the center of the event, briefly entered the park and tried to defuse the skirmishes. A helicopter circled overhead as the event began with the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, and a host of speakers began condemning the racial justice protesters who have gone nightly into Portland’s streets, as well as the city’s leaders. |
| A coalition of left-wing groups gathered for a demonstration in an area of the city known as Vanport, just down the street from the Proud Boys event. Another event promoted by Portland residents — labeled “Bloom” and promising crafts and other activities — was also getting underway downtown, miles from Delta Park. | A coalition of left-wing groups gathered for a demonstration in an area of the city known as Vanport, just down the street from the Proud Boys event. Another event promoted by Portland residents — labeled “Bloom” and promising crafts and other activities — was also getting underway downtown, miles from Delta Park. |
| By about 1:30 p.m., about 1,000 people had gathered at the Proud Boys event, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said in a Saturday afternoon update. At the Peninsula Park “Bloom” event, about 450 people were present, officials said. | |
| Three people had been arrested so far, the Sheriff’s Office said. Officers had also confiscated at least two hardened shields, which were being distributed at both places. “We will seize weapons and shields as can be done safely and as resources allow,” a spokesperson said. | |
| At the Proud Boys event, a man told those who had come together in the early afternoon that he had 30 shields to give out. The man arrived at the gathering with vehicles emblazoned with the words “American Wolf,” seemingly referencing an armed civilian militia-like group based in Washington State. | |
| At the “Bloom” event downtown, a group of black-clad demonstrators loaded makeshift plastic shields from a bus on their way to the rally, while medical crews set up tents. | |
| Doreen McGrath, a 63-year-old activist, said she had driven in with a group of about 25 people from Seattle. Their group stood on the outskirts of the gathering, chanting and waving signs. “Hey there, Proud Boys, you better hide,” they chanted. “We can see your fascist side.” | Doreen McGrath, a 63-year-old activist, said she had driven in with a group of about 25 people from Seattle. Their group stood on the outskirts of the gathering, chanting and waving signs. “Hey there, Proud Boys, you better hide,” they chanted. “We can see your fascist side.” |
| Alex Sundine, a member of Black Unity PDX, an activist group in Portland, said the organizers of the second counter-rally, the one being held about a half-mile away from Proud Boys event, planned to focus on their own event and ignore any efforts by the Proud Boys members to engage them. | Alex Sundine, a member of Black Unity PDX, an activist group in Portland, said the organizers of the second counter-rally, the one being held about a half-mile away from Proud Boys event, planned to focus on their own event and ignore any efforts by the Proud Boys members to engage them. |
| Among other things, organizers there said they would discuss the history of the Vanport neighborhood, a former home to many Black shipbuilders who were kept out of Portland by discriminatory housing practices. The city was destroyed when the Columbia River flooded it in 1948, and part of it was later turned into Delta Park, the site the Proud Boys members chose for their rally. | Among other things, organizers there said they would discuss the history of the Vanport neighborhood, a former home to many Black shipbuilders who were kept out of Portland by discriminatory housing practices. The city was destroyed when the Columbia River flooded it in 1948, and part of it was later turned into Delta Park, the site the Proud Boys members chose for their rally. |
| “It’s a history lesson almost to make people aware of what that land was and what it means — and a reminder of how our society treats Black people,” Mr. Sundine said. | “It’s a history lesson almost to make people aware of what that land was and what it means — and a reminder of how our society treats Black people,” Mr. Sundine said. |
| About 200 people were gathered for the event by noon on Saturday, holding Black Lives Matter flags and signs such as “Cops, Feds, and Fascists Out Of Portland Now!” | About 200 people were gathered for the event by noon on Saturday, holding Black Lives Matter flags and signs such as “Cops, Feds, and Fascists Out Of Portland Now!” |
| Even as he publicly condemned anyone hoping for violence, Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, acknowledged in an interview on Friday that skirmishes were possible, if not likely. | Even as he publicly condemned anyone hoping for violence, Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, acknowledged in an interview on Friday that skirmishes were possible, if not likely. |
| “I’d be stupid to say that I don’t expect someone to come in with some type of nefarious motives,” he said, pledging to report any such person to the police. | “I’d be stupid to say that I don’t expect someone to come in with some type of nefarious motives,” he said, pledging to report any such person to the police. |
| Earlier in the month, Mr. Tarrio posted online that “antifa is in for a bad time” if law enforcement was not present for the event. | Earlier in the month, Mr. Tarrio posted online that “antifa is in for a bad time” if law enforcement was not present for the event. |
| The group has strongly criticized Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland for not taking a stronger line against the protesters who clashed with agents outside of a federal courthouse downtown in nightly confrontations over several weeks. The Proud Boys welcomed Ms. Brown’s emergency order, which also allowed state and local police to use tear gas, which the mayor had banned city police officers from using. | The group has strongly criticized Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland for not taking a stronger line against the protesters who clashed with agents outside of a federal courthouse downtown in nightly confrontations over several weeks. The Proud Boys welcomed Ms. Brown’s emergency order, which also allowed state and local police to use tear gas, which the mayor had banned city police officers from using. |
| In a statement this week, Mr. Wheeler, a Democrat, said he feared the arrival of Saturday’s demonstrators more than the ongoing demonstrations against racial injustice in his city. | In a statement this week, Mr. Wheeler, a Democrat, said he feared the arrival of Saturday’s demonstrators more than the ongoing demonstrations against racial injustice in his city. |
| “I categorically condemn violence of all kinds by all people,” Mr. Wheeler said in a statement. “But let me be clear, the alt-right and white supremacist groups organizing to come to Portland on Saturday present the greatest threat we’ve faced so far.” | “I categorically condemn violence of all kinds by all people,” Mr. Wheeler said in a statement. “But let me be clear, the alt-right and white supremacist groups organizing to come to Portland on Saturday present the greatest threat we’ve faced so far.” |
| Portland has a long history of left-wing activists organizing to confront white supremacists or other far-right groups. Some incidents occurred as the city’s progressive organizers tried to quash some of the most explicit remnants of the region’s troubled racial history, which included Oregon’s status as the only non-slavery state to join the union with a constitutional clause that excluded Black people. | Portland has a long history of left-wing activists organizing to confront white supremacists or other far-right groups. Some incidents occurred as the city’s progressive organizers tried to quash some of the most explicit remnants of the region’s troubled racial history, which included Oregon’s status as the only non-slavery state to join the union with a constitutional clause that excluded Black people. |
| In the Trump era, a variety of right-wing groups, including the Proud Boys, have organized events in the city, some with the explicit intention of spurring confrontations with local activists. Leftists, including those who are part of the collective Rose City Antifa, one of the more prominent and organized antifa groups, have gathered to oppose them. | In the Trump era, a variety of right-wing groups, including the Proud Boys, have organized events in the city, some with the explicit intention of spurring confrontations with local activists. Leftists, including those who are part of the collective Rose City Antifa, one of the more prominent and organized antifa groups, have gathered to oppose them. |
| “The anti-fascist position has always been: never let fascists control the streets,” said Joseph Lowndes, a professor of political science at the University of Oregon who researches right-wing political trends. Mr. Lowndes said that while events that draw groups like the Proud Boys often lead to violence, he worried that recent events in Portland — including an antifa supporter’s killing in August of Aaron J. Danielson, an activist with the far-right group Patriot Prayer — raises the prospect of even more confrontation. | “The anti-fascist position has always been: never let fascists control the streets,” said Joseph Lowndes, a professor of political science at the University of Oregon who researches right-wing political trends. Mr. Lowndes said that while events that draw groups like the Proud Boys often lead to violence, he worried that recent events in Portland — including an antifa supporter’s killing in August of Aaron J. Danielson, an activist with the far-right group Patriot Prayer — raises the prospect of even more confrontation. |
| The unrest over police violence and racial justice has continued not just in Portland, but in cities across the country. | The unrest over police violence and racial justice has continued not just in Portland, but in cities across the country. |
| Protesters in Louisville faced off with the police again on Friday evening, with the police firing flash-bang grenades and arresting 22 people; more protests were planned for Saturday. In New York, hundreds of demonstrators held a sit-in for more than an hour on the Brooklyn Bridge, where many took a knee in honor of Ms. Taylor. People also took to the streets in Oakland, Seattle, Boston and Albuquerque, where a motorist reportedly tried to drive a car through the crowd, though no one was reported injured. | Protesters in Louisville faced off with the police again on Friday evening, with the police firing flash-bang grenades and arresting 22 people; more protests were planned for Saturday. In New York, hundreds of demonstrators held a sit-in for more than an hour on the Brooklyn Bridge, where many took a knee in honor of Ms. Taylor. People also took to the streets in Oakland, Seattle, Boston and Albuquerque, where a motorist reportedly tried to drive a car through the crowd, though no one was reported injured. |
| In Philadelphia on Saturday, dozens of Proud Boys marched through downtown city streets, followed by police officers on bikes. Some carried American flags and Trump 2020 flags while chanting derogatory comments about antifa, videos on social media showed. Some onlookers heckled them, mocking their appearance and clothing. | In Philadelphia on Saturday, dozens of Proud Boys marched through downtown city streets, followed by police officers on bikes. Some carried American flags and Trump 2020 flags while chanting derogatory comments about antifa, videos on social media showed. Some onlookers heckled them, mocking their appearance and clothing. |
| Kaitlin Gillespie in Portland and Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio in New York contributed reporting. | Kaitlin Gillespie in Portland and Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio in New York contributed reporting. |