Several opposing political groups, including "Patriot Prayer" and "Antifa", faced off in a protest at Tom McCall Waterfront Park Saturday, August 4, 2018. Portland police declared the Patriot Prayer / Antifa protest a civil disturbance and used force, including "flash bang" devices to disburse hundreds of right-wing and self-described anti-fascist protesters. There were arrests and some injuries, but it wasn't immediately clear how many.
The rally organized by Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson was the third to roil Portland this summer. Two previous events ended in bloody fistfights and riots, and one counter-protester was sent to the hospital with a skull fracture.
The counter-protesters were made up of a coalition of labor unions, immigrant rights advocates, democratic socialists and other groups. They included people dressed as clowns and a brass band blaring music.
Dueling protests a month ago ended with Portland police declaring a riot and arresting four people. A similar Patriot Prayer event on June 4 devolved into fistfights and assaults by both sides as police struggled to keep the groups apart. (ABC News 7, August 4, 2018)
A video showing some of this activity was posted to Vimeo
Christopher Mathias. National Reporter for the Huffington Post has additional coverage on his Twitter feed.
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