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A rally in Oregon sponsored by right-wing group Patriot Prayer became violent Saturday as protesters clashed with anti-fascist demonstrators, who ran in opposition to the event.
The Portland Police Department said that four people were taken to the hospital as a result of clashes at the rally. One person sustained a serious but non-fatal injury, while three others sustained non-serious injuries, police said.
Four people were arrested in criminal investigations that began before the Saturday demonstration, the police added. 19659002] In the midst of fighting, police said the so-called "Freedom and Courage" rally turned into a riot and revoked Patriot Prayer's permit to hold the event at the Terry Schrunk Plaza, a federal park in downtown Portland. ] Some Images of Violence: pic.twitter.com/02tLdQA96l
– Katie Shepherd (@katemshepherd) July 1, 2018
More than 100 protesters attended the event at the Support for patriotic prayer, While more than 100 counterprotectants have appeared, the local TV channel KOIN 6 has reported. Members of the Proud Boys, designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, attended the rally. (Patriot Prayer is not designated as a hate group by the center.)
Counterfeiters threw eggs, half-empty water bottles and firecrackers at protesters shortly after the start of the march of the rights, reported The Oregonian. response, according to the document, the police fired pepper spray bullets into the crowd. Police also used firecrackers, smoke bombs and flashes to deter violence, reported KOIN 6.
Police denied using tear gas during the protest but said they were using "aerial distraction devices."
Department of Homeland Security officers also present at the demonstration
Videos filmed by journalists showed protesters from the Patriot Prayer and counter-protesters who In a series of tweets, independent reporter Mike Bivins said the counterproters were throwing eggs, garbage and stones to protesters of the Patriot Prayer, then [traduction]
Jason Wilson, a writer for The Guardian who was covering the rally, said in a tweet that the confrontation between the groups "should be among the worst manifestations of violence that I have "
Police reported having seen assaults, criminal behavior and "Projectiles thrown" during the rally. Earlier Saturday, police said they had made "probable" arrests and tweeted photos of weapons seized during the protest.
The "Freedom and Courage" event was organized by Joey Gibson, Chief of the Patriot Prayer, who organized previous rallies
A group that identifies on Facebook as Eugene Antifa – based in Eugene, Oregon – organized counterprotestation, which they named "Defending PDX Violence: Violence" patriotic must stop. identified Gibson and the Proud Boys as their main opponents.
"It is very important that anti-fascists keep the pressure on us so that we can stop them once and for all," a Facebook event page for counter-reading
"While many acolytes have gone on away from Gibson at this point, the remaining core, largely the proud boys, have become more and more violent, "says the page. "For this reason, we must support our campaign, and continue our efforts on as many fronts as possible until they completely stop their despicable activity."
In anticipation of the rally, Portland police said that there would be "a significant police presence" in the downtown area because of previous protests that erupted in violence between groups.
Clashes between Patriot Prayer and their opponents erupted during a rally on June 3, leading to at least four arrests. The groups also clashed at several rallies held in 2017.
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