PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The left and right proclaiming their victory as a result of a long-running rally in Portland, Oregon, it seems that the liberal city will continue to be a strong point in a country more and more divided.
City officials were mostly relieved by the fact that on a Saturday in the city center, gathering more than 1,000 far-right protesters and anti-fascist counter-protesters not as violent as expected.
"I am grateful that it is largely a peaceful event," said Mayor Ted Wheeler. "We were preparing and planning the worst scenario."
There were 13 arrests and the police seized spray, shields, poles and other weapons. But by using gates and bridge closures – and allowing a large number of right-wing people to leave when they asked for it – the authorities were able to maintain separate spaces most of the time. Six minor injuries were reported.
Joe Biggs, the organizer of the right rally bringing together the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other far right groups, said he has achieved his goal of drawing attention to the anti-fascist protesters dressed in black – known as antifa – who came forward to meet them.
President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday morning on his website that "the major consideration is to name ANTIFA" ORGANIZATION of terror ".
It is entirely envisaged to name ANTIFA "ORGANIZATION OF THE EARTH". Portland is watched very closely. Hope the mayor will be able to do his job well!
What he meant was unclear because the US government had no way of declaring a national organization a terrorist group. Biggs told The Oregonian / OregonLive that he was happy that the rally caught Trump's attention.
"He talked about Portland, said he was watching Antifa, that's all we wanted," he said.
Biggs said he and the right groups would return to Portland as long as the antifa would be available.
But Eric K. Ward, executive director of the Portland-based Western States Center, said the rally on the right was a recession.
"Portland has won today and far right leaders such as Joey Gibson and Joe Biggs have lost," Ward said in a statement.
17PICTURES
Portland demonstrations
See gallery
Police arrest protester against right-wing protesters following "End Terror Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Although the main protest remained largely peaceful, some skirmishes broke out in the hours that followed. arrested several protesters. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing protesters parade along the Willamette River during a rally to "end domestic terrorism" in Portland, Oregon on Saturday August 17, 2019. Police Is mobilized to prevent clashes between conservat groups -protestors who converged on the city. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
The protesters rallied to oppose the confrontation of right-wing protesters with the police following the "End Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Although the main protest remained to a large extent peaceful, clashes erupted in the hours that followed. and the police arrested several protesters. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Police arrest protester against right-wing protesters following "End Terror Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Although the main protest remained largely peaceful, some skirmishes broke out in the hours that followed. arrested several protesters. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Police arrest protester against right-wing protesters following "End Terror Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Although the main protest remained largely peaceful, some skirmishes broke out in the hours that followed. arrested several protesters. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Police arrest protester against right-wing protesters following "End Terror Domestic Terrorism" rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Although the main protest remained largely peaceful, some skirmishes broke out in the hours that followed. arrested several protesters. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
A man walks away from the clash with protesters against right-wing protesters near Pioneer Courthouse Square following a rally against internal terrorism in Portland, Oregon, the United States. Saturday 17 August 2019. Although the main demonstration remained largely peaceful, Skirmishes broke out in the hours that followed and the police arrested several demonstrators. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
PORTLAND, USA – AUGUST 17: A retired paramedic faces Proud Boys waiting to board a vehicle to travel to another location after crossing the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon, USA. August 17, 2019, at a rally organized by Joe Biggs calling for the end of domestic terrorism.
(Photo by Alex Milan Tracy / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A right-wing provocateur is hit hard as hundreds of far-right members, including Proud Boys, Three-Cententers and Patriot Prayer, gather in Portland, Oregon on August 17, 2019 to end terrorism. domesticated. – No major incidents were reported Saturday afternoon in Portland (western United States) at a far-right rally and a counter-demonstration of the day. far left, raising fears of violent clashes between local authorities and US President Donald Trump, who was watching the event "very closely". (Photo by John Rudoff / AFP) (Photo credit should match JOHN RUDOFF / AFP / Getty Images)
A young man is arrested, most likely for assault, while hundreds of far-right members, including Proud Boys, Three-Cententers and Patriot Prayer, gathered in Portland, Oregon on August 17, 2019 to end to domestic terrorism. – No major incidents were reported Saturday afternoon in Portland (western United States) at a far-right rally and a counter-demonstration of the day. far left, raising fears of violent clashes between local authorities and US President Donald Trump, who was watching the event "very closely". (Photo by John Rudoff / AFP) (Photo credit should match JOHN RUDOFF / AFP / Getty Images)
Hundreds of far-right members, including Proud Boys, Three-Cententers and Patriot Prayer, are gathering in Portland, Oregon on August 17, 2019, to end domestic terrorism. – No major incidents were reported Saturday afternoon in Portland (western United States) at a far-right rally and a counter-demonstration of the day. far left, raising fears of violent clashes between local authorities and US President Donald Trump, who was watching the event "very closely". (Photo by John Rudoff / AFP) (Photo credit should match JOHN RUDOFF / AFP / Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – AUGUST 17: Rally organizer Joe Biggs leads the Far Right Domestic Terrorism Rally at Waterfront Park on August 17, 2019 in Portland, OR (photo by Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR – AUGUST 17: Anti-Nazi flag, mixed with the Cascadia flag and the American flag emblazoned with the parade of the far right rally organized against domestic terrorism at the Waterfront Park, August 17, 2019, in Portland, OR (Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire photo via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR – AUGUST 17: The right-wing participants staged the national end-of-terror rally, flying the Gadsden flag and the American flag, as they paraded at the police's request. Portland at Waterfront Park on August 17, 2019, Portland, OR (photo by Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR – AUGUST 17: Flags in support of right-wing President Donald Trump organized the end of domestic terrorism rally at Waterfront Park on August 17, 2019 in Portland, OR (photo by Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR – AUGUST 17: Right-wing extremists and protesters challenged their arguments during a high-tension debate at the end-of-end rally of domestic terrorism organized by the far-right Waterfront Park August 17, 2019 in Portland, OR (Photo by Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
Counter-protesters gather right-wing protesters from the Patriot Prayer group at a rally in Portland, Oregon, United States, Aug. 4, 2018. REUTERS / Jim Urquhart TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
HIDE THE LEGEND
SHOW CAPTION
The mission of the Western States Center is to increase inclusive democracy.
In an interview, Ward said that Biggs' groups had interrupted a planned rally of five hours after just one hour and were gone.
"The white, far-right, nationalist coalition that came to Portland was denied what it wanted to create, namely, far-reaching civil unrest," Ward said.
While antifa protesters are attracting a lot of attention, Ward said many more people came to oppose right-wing groups. He also congratulated the police and city officials for their actions.
"What I saw yesterday was the first step in Portland to prepare a response to the city scale," he said.
Wheeler, Mayor of Portland, said at a press conference on Saturday night that Biggs and anyone marrying hatred or violence were not welcome.
"We do not want him here in my city, period," said Wheeler.
Wheeler linked the protests to "a rising white nationalist movement" and a growing sense of fear in the country.
"Portland being a very progressive community, it will always be at or near zero stage of this battle."
Wheeler pointed out that there were hundreds of events each year in Portland and that most were not receiving any attention.
The last rally started late Saturday morning. Members of the Proud Boys, Three Percenters waving flags and others militia group gathered in the downtown core, some wearing body armor and helmets like antifa protesters.
More than two dozen federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have gone to the city for the right rally.
By the beginning of the afternoon, most right-wing groups had left the area. But hundreds of people remained in the city center and in the surrounding streets, and tense skirmishes took place, mainly with antifa protesters who were trying to find right-wing protesters throughout the day.
Gibson, of Patriot Prayer, who had staged similar rallies in 2017 and 2018 during clashes, went on Friday under a arrest warrant for criminal riot. He was at a showdown that broke out on May 1st in front of a bar where antifa members had gathered after a May Day rally.
In a video he watched on Facebook, Gibson accused police of playing politics by stopping him, but not the masked protesters who hit conservative blogger Andy Ngo at a rally that drew attention national.
A video of this attack became viral and led the Proud Boys, who were designated hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, to hold Saturday's event.
Gibson was also at Saturday's rally.
Ward said that even though the right-wing groups were returning to Portland, he was confident in the community's ability to stay true to its values.
"The tables have really turned significantly," he said.
More than Aol.com:
White supremacy is an "international terrorist problem", says Ocasio-Cortez on the eve of Dayton, victims of El Paso
Renowned Republicans denounce white supremacy after El Paso massacre
US prosecutors accuse a New York man of being an elite sniper of the Islamic State
