Read on Twitter
A few notes on Patriot Prayer and antifa, having covered a bunch of events where both were present since 2016.
When I talk to folks at Patriot Prayer rallies, the most interesting thing is how hard it is to pin down an agenda. Simple stuff. What they're FOR, what they WANT.
1/
When I talk to folks at Patriot Prayer rallies, the most interesting thing is how hard it is to pin down an agenda. Simple stuff. What they're FOR, what they WANT.
1/
Patriot Prayer is pro-Trump. Beyond that, they don’t espouse policy goals at their rallies - except one, really. “Freedom of speech.”
When you ask attendees why they’re rallying, it’s almost always that they see liberals/leftists/antifascists as stifling freedom of speech.
2/
When you ask attendees why they’re rallying, it’s almost always that they see liberals/leftists/antifascists as stifling freedom of speech.
2/
When you try to drill down on Patriot Prayer’s beliefs, a picture emerges of a group defined not by what it's FOR but by what it's AGAINST.
Patriot Prayer is not pro anything, so much as it is ANTI-leftists and specifically anti-antifa.
3/
Patriot Prayer is not pro anything, so much as it is ANTI-leftists and specifically anti-antifa.
3/
Antifa, of course, exists to oppose people and organizations they deem fascist. Patriot Prayer falls squarely in that category.
So you have two “groups” whose overriding purpose is to oppose the other.
(I know calling antifa a "group" probably doesn't get it quite right).
4/
So you have two “groups” whose overriding purpose is to oppose the other.
(I know calling antifa a "group" probably doesn't get it quite right).
4/
Patriot Prayer’s tactic since they emerged four years ago has been to:
(1) Stage a rally in a left-leaning city: Seattle, Portland, Olympia, Berkeley.
(2) Provoke aggression by leftists or antifa.
(3) Film it and post it online for lots of views.
5/
(1) Stage a rally in a left-leaning city: Seattle, Portland, Olympia, Berkeley.
(2) Provoke aggression by leftists or antifa.
(3) Film it and post it online for lots of views.
5/
These videos are red meat for right-wing Twitter and Facebook, evidence of how "out-of-control" the left is.
It is internet trolling brought to life in the real world.
Patriot Prayer often gets what it wants at these rallies.
6/ https://www.knkx.org/post/conservative-rallies-liberal-cities-part-free-speech-exercise-part-provocation
It is internet trolling brought to life in the real world.
Patriot Prayer often gets what it wants at these rallies.
6/ https://www.knkx.org/post/conservative-rallies-liberal-cities-part-free-speech-exercise-part-provocation
I write this because I’ve seen national media seem to struggle to define Patriot Prayer, or refer to them vaguely as “right-wing.” Accurate, incomplete.
It’s a pro-Trump group that exists to troll leftist and antifascist activists in liberal cities, and provoke aggression.
8/
It’s a pro-Trump group that exists to troll leftist and antifascist activists in liberal cities, and provoke aggression.
8/
Reporters on the West Coast have watched this pageantry over and over for four years.
There’s a rhythm to it. The police keep the two sides separated for a while, but as the hours pass, groups break up.
That’s when small bands of opposing groups find each other, and brawl.
9/
There’s a rhythm to it. The police keep the two sides separated for a while, but as the hours pass, groups break up.
That’s when small bands of opposing groups find each other, and brawl.
9/
This is in no way an attempt to explain why a man died in Portland.
But hopefully the backdrop is a little clearer to folks in other parts of the U.S. who might be mystified by images coming out of Portland: people riding in trucks, paintballing and macing other people.
/10
But hopefully the backdrop is a little clearer to folks in other parts of the U.S. who might be mystified by images coming out of Portland: people riding in trucks, paintballing and macing other people.
/10
For a long time, I struggled to write a concise description of Patriot Prayer, in part because it's so hard to pin down what it's for.
But if you think of it as just anti-antifa, it suddenly makes sense.
11/End
But if you think of it as just anti-antifa, it suddenly makes sense.
11/End
One more thing: the Patriot Prayer phenomenon, I think, is a result of Pacific Northwest geography - bluest of blue cities like Portland surrounded by miles upon miles of the reddest red rural, conservative areas.
Thanks for reading this thread. All I have to plug is this podcast about homelessness I made with the great people at @timeshomeless
Please subscribe on your podcast app, rate, and review. Thanks! https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/outsiders-podcast-knkx-seattle-times-project-homeless/
Please subscribe on your podcast app, rate, and review. Thanks! https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/outsiders-podcast-knkx-seattle-times-project-homeless/
