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Far-Right and Anti-Fascist Protesters Take to Portland Streets

HeadlineAug 19, 2019

Hundreds of far-right protesters took to the streets of Portland, Oregon, Saturday for what they dubbed the “End Domestic Terrorism” rally. They were outnumbered, however, by counterprotesters who gathered across the city as police escorted members of the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other right-wing groups across one of the city’s main bridges. Police arrested 13 people throughout the day and seized weapons, but the day’s events largely avoided “the worst-case scenario” Portland’s Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city was prepared for. One of the rally’s organizers, Joe Biggs, told a reporter the event was a success, pointing to recognition by Trump, saying, “Go look at President Trump’s Twitter. He talked about Portland, said he’s watching antifa. That’s all we wanted. We wanted national attention, and we got it. Mission success.” Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted: “Major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an 'ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.' Portland is being watched very closely. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!” This is a spokesperson from Rose City Antifa speaking at Saturday’s dueling protests.

“Felix”: “We absolutely reject the label domestic terrorism. Anti-fascists are not domestic terrorists. We are the people who stand up for our community and defend it from the people who want to do our community great harm.”

A number of Republican politicians have called for antifa to be recognized as a terror organization. A Republican congressional memo obtained by the Tampa Bay Times cites antifa as a violent group responsible for gun violence despite zero deaths being attributed to antifa protesters. The FBI found the majority of domestic terror in the U.S. is caused by white supremacists.

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