Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 19 august 2019

Far-right and antifa groups both claim victory at Portland

By GILLIAN FLACCUS Saturday morning. Flag-
Associated Press waving members of the
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Proud Boys, Three Percent-
With both the left and the ers militia group and others
right declaring victory fol- gathered downtown, some
lowing a long-hyped rally wearing body armor and
that had Portland, Oregon, helmets like the antifa pro-
on edge it seems the liberal testers. More than two doz-
city will continue to be a en local, state and federal
flashpoint in an increasingly law enforcement agen-
divided country. cies, including the FBI, were
City officials were mostly in the city for the right-wing
relieved that a downtown rally. As of early afternoon,
gathering Saturday of more most of the right-wing
than 1,000 far-right protest- groups had left the area.
ers and anti-fascist coun- But hundreds of people
ter-demonstrators wasn’t remained downtown and
as violent as feared. on nearby streets, and
“I’m grateful this was large- there were tense skirmishes,
ly a peaceful event,” May- mostly with antifa protest-
or Ted Wheeler said. “We ers who were trying to find
were preparing for and right-wing rallyers, through-
planning for a worst-case out the day.
scenario.” There were 13 Black-clad protesters, gathered to oppose conservative groups staging an “End Domestic Patriot Prayer’s Gibson,
arrests and police seized Terrorism” rally, hold signs in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. who organized similar rallies
bear spray, shields, poles Associated Press in 2017 and 2018 that erupt-
and other weapons. But by TIFA an ‘ORGANIZATION of was a bust. “Portland won officials for their actions. ed in clashes, surrendered
using barriers and bridge TERROR.’” It wasn’t immedi- today, and far-right leaders “What I saw yesterday was Friday on an arrest warrant
closures — and allowing a ately clear what he meant like Joey Gibson and Joe the first step in Portland re- for felony rioting. He was at
large contingent of right- by that because there’s no Biggs lost,” Ward said in a ally putting together a city- a confrontation that broke
wingers to leave when they mechanism for the United statement. wide response,” he said. out on May 1 outside a bar
asked to — authorities were States government to de- The Western States Center Wheeler, Portland’s mayor, where antifa members had
able to mostly keep the two clare a domestic organiza- stated mission is to increase said at a Saturday eve- gathered after a May Day
sides apart. Six minor injuries tion a terror group. inclusive democracy. ning news conference that demonstration.
were reported. Biggs told The Orego- In an interview, Ward said Biggs and anyone espous- In a video he livestreamed
Joe Biggs, the organizer of nian/OregonLive he was Biggs’ groups cut short a ing hate or violence was on Facebook, Gibson ac-
the right-wing gathering pleased the rally attracted planned five-hour rally after not welcome. cused the police of play-
that featured the Proud Trump’s attention. only one hour and left. “We do not want him here ing politics by arresting him
Boys, Patriot Prayer and “He talked about Portland, “The white nationalist, alt- in my city. Period,” Wheel- but not the masked dem-
other far-right groups, said said he’s watching antifa. right coalition that came to er said. “Portland being a onstrators who beat up
they accomplished their That’s all we wanted,” he Portland were denied what very progressive commu- conservative blogger Andy
goal of drawing attention said. they sought to create, nity is always going to be at Ngo at a June 29 rally that
to black-clad anti-fascist Biggs said he and the right- which was large-scale civil or near ground zero of this drew national attention.
protesters — known as an- wing groups would keep disturbances,” Ward said. battle.” A video of that attack went
tifa —who showed up to coming back to Portland so While antifa protesters get Wheeler emphasized that viral and led the Proud
meet them. long as antifa was around. a lot of attention, Ward said there are hundreds of pro- Boys, who have been des-
President Donald Trump But Eric K. Ward, executive there were many others tests every year in Portland, ignated a hate group by
tweeted early Saturday director of the Portland- who came out to oppose and most don’t get any at- the Southern Poverty Law
that “major consideration is based Western States Cen- the right-wing groups. He tention. Center, to organize Satur-
being given to naming AN- ter, said the right-wing rally also praised police and city The latest rally began late day’s event.q