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As the country focuses on Federal violence in Portland, it's important to remember how we got here: through a deliberate campaign to repress dissent by the Portland Police, the State, and the far-right.
Below is a brief overview of this collaboration over the last few years:
Below is a brief overview of this collaboration over the last few years:
April 28th, 2017: after the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade was cancelled, the Multnomah County GOP and the far-right cast unfounded blame on antifascists, beginning an ongoing hysteria around antifascism.
https://rosecityantifa.org/article/2017-04-28-gop-and-far-right-cater-to-hate-groups-to-demonize-antifa/
https://rosecityantifa.org/article/2017-04-28-gop-and-far-right-cater-to-hate-groups-to-demonize-antifa/
June 4th, 2017: the Portland Police attack antifascists so that they can escort Joey Gibson, Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys, Identity Europa, and other contingents of violent white supremacists to their cars.
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/report-back-june-4-2017/
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/report-back-june-4-2017/
June 22nd, 2018: our third #DoxxAllYourBoys article comes out, highlighting Russel Schultz, a violent Proud Boy https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/pb-3/ . On February 18th, 2019, we confirm that he is related to Micah Coring, a member of Federal Law Enforcement in Portland: https://twitter.com/RoseCityAntifa/status/1280595096811913216?s=20
August 4th, 2018: While protecting Patriot Prayer and a cohort of violent far-right provocateurs, Portland Police assault counter protesters and shoot a flashbang grenade into a protester's head, fracturing his skull.
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/erry-2018/08/3c72b496e52202/portland-police-fired-crowdcon.html https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2018/09/19/protester-who-suffered-a-traumatic-brain-injury-from-a-flash-bang-grenade-intends-to-sue-the-portland-police/
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/erry-2018/08/3c72b496e52202/portland-police-fired-crowdcon.html https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2018/09/19/protester-who-suffered-a-traumatic-brain-injury-from-a-flash-bang-grenade-intends-to-sue-the-portland-police/
Shortly afterwards, the Portland chief of police at the time (now chief of police in Philadelphia), Danielle Outlaw, brags about this violence on a right-wing radio show. https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2018/08/15/portland-police-chief-says-protesters-went-off-to-whine-and-complain-last-week-because-officers-kicked-your-butt/
February 14th, 2019: The @portlandmercury and @wweek reveal hundreds of text messages and emails between the Portland Police and Joey Gibson, which include: helping Tiny Toese avoid arrest for assault, providing heads-ups on antifascist's movements, etc. https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/02/14/25885836/texts-show-protective-relationship-between-portland-cops-and-patriot-prayer
February 7th, 2019: The Portland City Council passes a resolution condemning white supremacy. We post an article in response, which names two known white supremacists working for the city of Portland. Neither lost their job.
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/quincy-franklin-gregory-isaacson/
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/quincy-franklin-gregory-isaacson/
February 21st, 2019: The Police hold a listening session regarding the texts between Gibson and the PPB, which went predictably poorly. We posted an article in response on February 22nd, which highlights the above instances of collaboration and more: https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/listening-session-statement/
On September 12th, 2019, Lt. Niiya, who was the center of these text exchanges, was cleared of wrongdoing: https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-police-clear-officer-jeff-niiya-joey-gibson/
June 29th, 2019: the Portland Police share their infamous tweet accusing protesters of putting concrete in milkshakes, which is LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE since sugar prevents concrete from setting. https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2019/07/10/is-it-possible-to-mix-cement-into-a-vegan-milkshake-we-did-it/
July 18th, 2019: Sens. Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy introduce a resolution to designate "antifa" a terrorist organization. We release a statement in response, which was cosigned by over 120 other groups and organizations.
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/statement-against-criminalizing-protest/
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/statement-against-criminalizing-protest/
By the way - Ted Cruz can be seen posing with Enrique Tarrio, leader of the violent Proud Boys, in these photos posted July 19th, 2019 https://twitter.com/IGD_News/status/1152391880317034496
August 17th, 2019: Portland Police arrest someone for spitting in their direction https://twitter.com/feefifofummmm/status/1162935241582841857, escort the Proud Boys across a closed bridge to keep them ~safe~, and arrest Alex Dial (betacuck4lyfe) for...preventing a murder? https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2019/08/1-hammer-1-antifa-mob-chase-a-closer-look-at-portlands-viral-protest-moments.html
A key witness used in the Grand Jury to indict Alex Dial was later shown to be nowhere near the alleged incident, however, the charges still have not been dropped and he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of almost 6 years ( https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lpro/Publications/Measure11.pdf) https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2019/09/key-protest-witness-nowhere-near-bus-during-portland-hammer-attack-lawyer-says.html
December 22nd, 2019: we post our "year in review" for 2019, highlighting the collaboration between the state and far-right. Read for more examples!
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/2019yir/
https://rosecityantifa.org/articles/2019yir/
And now we're here: over 50 days of continued protests against police brutality. Every night, the police assault protesters and bystanders. And somehow, the Feds decided that the PPB are not being quite violent enough, and wanted to try their hand.
After years of violence, brutality, and repression, Portland is stronger and more resilient than ever. We've never been more prepared to fight for what we believe in and what is right.
Solidarity with everyone fighting to end their violence. Together we can build a better world.
Solidarity with everyone fighting to end their violence. Together we can build a better world.
