Portland may impose restrictions on demonstrations if groups have a history of violence, Mayor says

The mayor of Portland on Monday proposed restrictions on protests by groups with a history of violence. His remarks came after violent clashes Saturday at a rally bringing together the antifa and extreme right groups. Patriotic prayer and Proud Boys.

At a press conference, Mayor Ted Wheeler on Monday listed a number of recent protest events during which protesters were found with large arms caches, reported KOIN, affiliated with CBS Portland.

Wheeler said Patriot Prayer's protesters had been arrested on the roof with weapons and ammunition during a police raid. August 4 demonstration. That day, a giant crowd of several opposing political groups, including Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys and Antifa, clashed at an event that began in a downtown park, reports Koin. .

The officers initially seized the weapons and ammunition of the protesters, which were later surrendered. No arrests were made because all the demonstrators had concealed carrying permits.

The settlement proposed by Wheeler on Monday would impose "reasonable restrictions of time, place and manner". The proposal would give the police commissioner more tools to keep the peace and separate protesters, city lawyer said.

Wheeler said he hoped the ordinance would be ready for city council on Wednesday, according to Oregonian / OregonLive.

But the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted on Monday that it had "serious concerns" about the proposed regulations.

Wheeler said that "the goal is to reduce the fights and violence in the street" and that "it gives us more tools to deal with the protests".

Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, organizer of Saturday's protest, told KOIN that the march was a reaction to Wheeler's reaction to a 7 October protest against the murder of Patrick Kimmons. During the October 7 demonstration on Kimmons' death, a car passed through the crowd and was damaged by protesters who blocked her passage and hit the car. The police did not arrest anyone but said they were monitoring the situation.

Four people were treated for injuries at the Saturday demonstration. The riot police broke up the fight, but the police said that no arrests had been made.

Meanwhile, the New York police is carrying charges of riot or attempted aggression of nine members Friday night in front of the Manhattan Republican Club after an appearance by the group's founder, Proud Boys Gavin McInnes. The NYPD said it was also prosecuting three anti-fascist demonstrators.

Peter Martinez contributed to this report.