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The mayor of Portland, Oregon, said Saturday night that his city had avoided the "worst case scenario" after members of far-right and far-left groups from Antifa had staged protests. in duels that lasted hours in the center of the city. end.
"Given the continuous movement and the number of people involved, I am grateful that it is an essentially peaceful event," said Mayor Ted Wheeler to the press. "The police have done an exemplary job of defusing the situation, separating most extremists from both sides and limiting the interactions between individuals."
TRUMP THREAT TO IDENTIFY ANTIFA TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BEFORE EXPECTED PORTLAND AIRCRAFT
At least 13 people were arrested. Police chief Danielle Outlaw told a press conference that those arrested could be charged with disorderly conduct, police interference, resistance to arrest, possession of a weapon in a park and illegal use of a weapon.
Earlier in the day, the police had tweeted images of weapons seized by several groups, including anti-bear sprays, shields and metal and wooden poles.
"To date, we are aware of six events involving officers," Outlaw said. "There was a case where an officer deployed pepper bullets, the other cases involved demolitions or control against resistance."
Six people were slightly injured and one of them was transported to a local hospital. Another person was treated for health problems unrelated to the protests, said police spokeswoman Lt. Tina Jones.
Members of the Proud Boys and Three Percenters militia group waving flags began to gather late in the morning, some wearing body armor and a helmet. Among the hundreds of people in the streets, Antifa members dressed in black, wearing a helmet and masks. The groups gathered on both sides of the Willamette River, which runs through the city.
The authorities used public address trucks and loudspeakers to remind protesters on both sides to stay off the street, otherwise they would be arrested. They also set up concrete barriers and closed streets and bridges to contain and separate rival groups.
About 700 law enforcement officials from local, national and federal agencies, including the FBI, went to the city for the right rally, which was expected to attract people from across the country . The Portland police have announced that the 1,000 officers of the city would be stationed for the rally that has been featured on social media and elsewhere for weeks.
All those who gathered on Saturday were not with right-wing groups or Antifa. People dressed in colorful outfits and people attending a nearby prayer service also carried placards bearing slogans such as "No Trump, No NRA".
Police formed a physical barrier under the Morrison Bridge in Tom McCall Waterfront Park to separate rival groups from the fighting. The Proud Boys and their supporters were on the south side of the demarcation line while the counter-protesters remained on the north side, according to reports in The Oregonian.
TRUMP THREAT TO IDENTIFY ANTIFA TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BEFORE EXPECTED PORTLAND AIRCRAFT
KPTV and The Oregonian reported that some of the protesters had started leaving early in the afternoon, as the authorities briefly reopened the Hawthorne Bridge to allow them to pass. Police used police officers on bicycles and in riot gear to prevent Antifa members from following them. The Oregonian reported that a group of leftist protesters had attacked a bus carrying a group of Proud Boys out of downtown Portland, smashing windows.
"The Proud Boys contacted us or contacted the units on the ground telling them that they wanted to leave and we made it easy for them to leave the area," said Sgt of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Brandon White told the newspaper. "It was not planned, it was not orchestrated, we asked that they want to leave the area and we made it easier."
But hundreds of people remained in the city center and in the surrounding streets, and skirmishes took place throughout the day. At approximately 4:15 pm, police reported a "civil unrest" that mainly gathered leftist protesters near Pioneer Courthouse Square and ordered people to leave.
Later in the afternoon, the Oregonian also announced that a group of left-wing counter-protesters had surrounded two people wearing American flag-inspired clothing and had "threatened, threatened and threatened them." prosecuted. "
Joey Gibson, of the Patriot Prayer, who organized in 2017 and 2018 similar rallies that broke out during clashes. Gibson went on Friday under a warrant for arrest for criminal riots, but was released on bail a few hours later.
"I'm only here for the ride," Gibson told The Oregonian.
The organizer, Joe Biggs, told the newspaper that the protesters "wanted national attention and we got it".
"Check out President Trump's Twitter account," said Biggs, "he talked about Portland, said he was watching Antifa, that's all we wanted … a success in the mission."
President Trump tweeted Saturday morning that he was considering appointing Antifa as a national terrorist group.
"We pay special attention to the designation of ANTIFA as" ORGANIZATION OF THE TERROR ", said Trump. We are watching closely in Portland. I hope the mayor will be able to do his job properly! "
On Saturday afternoon, the Proud Boys promised to return to Portland every month, until Wheeler "takes charge and eliminates the scourge of violent national terrorists in his city," referring to Antifa.
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Wheeler reacted Saturday night by imploring Biggs to think of the millions of taxpayer dollars used to police the police and ensure the safety of the protests. The mayor also said that Biggs' rhetoric was creating a "climate of fear on a national scale".
"We do not want him here in my city, period," said Wheeler.
Wheeler's message was similar to the one he had issued to protesters on both sides before the protests.
"We do not want your hatred, we do not want your violence, but if you come here, we'll be ready," he said in an interview with Fox News on Friday.
"Again, when it comes to enforcing the norms of our community, we support the right of people to demonstrate, but we do not care about who you are or your policy," he said. declared. "If you engage in violence in this city, you will be held responsible."
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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