Police Chief Chuck Lovell sent out an alert Thursday to anyone planning to sow unrest in Portland over the weekend: “Don’t come.”
Lovell, Mayor Ted Wheeler, community leaders and anti-fascist protesters are gearing up for an anticipated far-right gathering Sunday afternoon at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. An anonymous flier has circulated publicly advertising: “United We Win. Event for patriots. Don’t tread on me.”
An opposition flier followed: “Calling all antifascists! … Fight back -- all out!”
The potential confrontation comes on the one-year anniversary of a brawl between far-right activists, some affiliated with the Proud Boys, and antifa a year ago when they traded blows with mace, paintball guns and rocks.
Lovell said police will monitor whatever happens and may make arrests if they see illegal behavior.
“Our message is: those planning to come down to engage in violence, don’t come,” he said in a statement. “You should not expect to see police officers standing in the middle of the crowd trying to keep people apart. People should keep themselves apart and avoid physical confrontation.”
At last year’s Aug. 22 clash at the Multnomah County Justice Center, police largely stayed away and did again two weeks ago while videos of groups shooting paintballs and mace at one another made national news.
In a separate statement, the Portland Bureau of Development Services made a plea to business owners in the area to lock up their dumpsters and bring in any A-framed signs. Protesters in the past have thrown the signs and started fires in dumpsters.
Wheeler is hosting a virtual anti-hate event over Zoom billed as “Choose Love.” It’s set to start at 11:10 a.m. Friday with speakers from organizations including the Portland-based Western States Center, Integrity First for America and other city leaders. The Brown Sisters, a local band, also will perform.
The mayor, along with members of the two groups and Lovell, will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. to discuss safety planning for the possible waterfront skirmish.
Another event denouncing hate is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at 916 N.W. Flanders St. by Portland community leaders including Don’t Shoot Portland and the Oregon Justice Resource Center.
Western States, an organization that monitors right-wing extremism, believes the Sunday gathering “is an intentional effort to undermine Portland’s democratic governance and Portland’s communities,” said its program director, Lindsay Schubiner.
On Aug. 7, right-wing activists from outside Portland and anti-fascists faced off downtown during a religious event where Artur Pawlowski, a controversial street preacher from Canada, spoke. Pawlowski has publicly expressed anti-LGBT and anti-mask views.
“We’ve seen this repeatedly,” Schubiner said. “Bigoted and anti-Democratic groups are trying to sow chaos and build political power to essentially promote their dangerous and exclusionary agenda as an alternative to inclusive democracy.”
-- Jack Forrest
jforrest@oregonian.com; 541-222-9808; Follow on Twitter @Jackmandu55
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Mayor, police, activists prepare for far-right groups to gather Sunday on Portland waterfront - OregonLive
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