Antifa protesters throw concrete at police and vandalize a war memorial with ‘Kill Cops’ messages during demonstration against a planned KKK rally in Portland
- Counter protesters, including members of Antifa, rallied in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday morning
- Authorities say that the counter-rally took place after another group cancelled their demonstration and protesters still showed up
- Counter-protesters reportedly jabbed civilians with umbrellas and threw several objects, including concrete, at police officers
- A war memorial and nearby walls were vandalized with spray paint
- The messages included ‘Punch Cops’ and ‘Kill Cops’
- Portland medics treated three victims for exposure to pepper spray, while one woman was struck by a car
- Three people were arrested and charged with misdemeanor offense
By LAUREN EDMONDS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 15:07 EST, 9 February 2020
Three people were arrested following an Antifa demonstration against a cancelled Ku Klux Klan rally in Oregon, as protestors vandalized a war memorial and threw concrete at police.
The chaotic demonstration started in Lownsdale Square Park in Portland, after it was revealed the Ku Klux Klan was planning a white supremacist rally, Portland Tribunereports.
The publication had previously reported that Steven Shane Howard – a former Imperial Wizard from North Mississippi – had announced the rally.
However, Portland Police Bureau said the group – who they have not officially identified the KKK – cancelled the weekend rally around 11am that morning.
Counter-protesters, including members of Antifa, rallied in Lownsdale Square Park in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday
The group was reportedly there to protest a Ku Klux Klan rally, but still arrived after the KKK cancelled their event
The cancellation did not stop counter-protesters, including Antifa members, from arriving at the park as planned and eventually becoming a public nuisance.
Effie Baum of PopMob, who organized counter-protest, said: ‘We basically planned this knowing that it was most likely going to be a victory party, without a lot of “hurrah” before hand.
‘We still have to show up, because the risk of not showing up is far greater.’
Officers stayed on the outskirts of the event while it remained peaceful, but stepped in when members of the demonstration became antagonistic.
‘Some people in the group began acting in a violent, threatening manner against attendees who were legally capturing photos and videos. Officers responded to address specific criminal acts,’ authorities said in a statement.
They say demonstrators began using metal-tipped umbrellas to job at civilians and chase them down the street, as well as using vandalizing nearby walls and a way memorial with spray paint.
Some individuals used spray pain to vandalize and deface a war memorial in Lownsdale Square Park with anti-police rhetoric
Photos shared by Portland authorities show messages that say ‘All Cops are Bastards’ and ‘Kill Cops’
Authorities are still searching for one of the vandals and has offered a $2,500 reward for information on their whereabouts
The written messages included ‘Punch Cops,’ ‘Kill Cops,’ ‘All Cops are Bastards,’ and what appears to say ‘F*** the KKK.’
One of those individuals was eventually arrested by police after he was chased down by officers on bikes.
At one point, authorities attempted to arrest a man who ran into the crowd. This led to a stand-off, chanting and the officers backing down, Portland Tribune reports.
Surveillance footage captured the moment an Antifa member used spray paint to deface the war memorial
The chaotic demonstration prompted a large response from Portland authorities, who said this caused them to limit their ability to respond to calls
During the demonstration, protesters threw rocks, concrete, batons cans and food at officers at the scene. Protesters hold up a sign reading ‘No KKK in PDX,’ referring to Portland International Airport
Individuals threw rocks, concrete, batons cans and food at officers.
At least two incendiary devices, believed to be flare guns, were thrown into the street as traffic drove by.
The event lasted four hours, prompting authorities to respond with a large police presence which limited their ability to answer service calls citywide.
Portland Fire and Rescue medics treated three victims for exposure to pepper spray.
Video footage shows a man named Brandon Brown being poked with umbrellas before getting into a physical altercation with a group of counter protesters.
He is eventually pepper sprayed by an unknown assailant. It is unclear what preceded the altercation.
Live streamer Brandon Brown kicked out of demonstration by antifascist protesters.33911:39 AM – Feb 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy102 people are talking about this
Medics treated three people who were pepper-sprayed on Saturday, including a man who was poked by protesters with umbrellas
Another person was injured when they were struck by a vehicle. They were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Mary Jean Dowell arrived at the protest to condemn President Donald Trump and the government, but was shoved into the street and told to ‘go home.’
Dowell said: ‘They’re here to provoke a riot and I’m here to stop it. Unfortunately, this is an urban battle ground and I’m a retired soldier.’
Some individuals at Lownsdale Square Park simply wanted to listen to a live band play, according to Oregon Live.
Of the event, Chief Jami Resch said: ‘I want to acknowledge the community members who came down to peacefully assemble and exercise their freedom of speech rights.’
Dowell: ‘They’re here to provoke a riot and I’m here to stop it. Unfortunately, this is an urban battle ground and I’m a retired soldier’
Police in riot gear arrest Brandon Farley (center) during the protest for misdemeanor charges
‘Unfortunately, a group of people chose to engage in dangerous, illegal behavior. I appreciate the thoughtful, measured response by our officers and law enforcement partners.
‘A small group’s actions negatively impacted public safety of the entire city because resources had to be diverted to this event.’
Authorities noted that freedom of speech and assembly are constitutionally protected regardless of speech or alignment with Portland values.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said Brandon Farley, 31, was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and Heaven Davis, 19, was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Willy Cannon, 25, was charged with a misdemeanor for abusing a memorial and a felony for criminal mischief.
Police are offering a reward up to $2,500 for information on the suspect who vandalized the war memorial.
(Pictured left to right) Willy Cannon, Brandon Farley and Heaven Davis were arrested by Portland police on Saturday following a counter-protest that included Antifa members
The recent demonstration sparked outrage on social media, prompting the hashtag #AntifaTerrorists to trend on Twitter.
‘Reminder that you don’t need to kill people to be a terrorist,’ one man said, adding the a screenshot of the definition of terrorist.
He later added: ‘It’s crazy that twitter decided to push this hashtag to be pro-antifa #AntifaTerrorists. I’m all for anti-fascism, I’m not for unorganized violence against people who haven’t started any fights. I’m also against antifa who fight Jews walking out of holocaust museums and reporters
‘Glad to see #AntifaTerrorists trending. Maybe people have finally woken up to how evil that organization is,’ another person said.
The recent demonstration sparked outrage on social media, prompting the hashtag #AntifaTerrorists to trend on Twitter
Several users condemned both the protest and the Antifa, with this man saying: ‘I’m all for anti-fascism, I’m not for unorganized violence against people who haven’t started any fights’
‘Glad to see #AntifaTerrorists trending. Maybe people have finally woken up to how evil that organization is,’ one person wrote.
Other social media users argued Antifa wasn’t inherently criminal.
‘The KKK has killed thousands, Antifa has killed 0, but only one of them is listed as a domestic terrorist group and its not the KKK #AntifaTerrorists.’
One man said pointed out what he referred to as ‘real domestic terrorists.’
‘The real domestic terrorists,’ he wrote.
‘Charleston church shooting – 9 dead. El Paso shooting -22 dead. MAGA Bomber – 16 pipe bombs mailed (thwarted). Charlottesville car attack – 1 dead, 28 wounded. 3 White Nationalists Arrested plotting to murder protesters in VA, #AntifaTerrorists.’
‘The KKK has killed thousands, Antifa has killed 0, but only one of them is listed as a domestic terrorist group and its not the KKK #AntifaTerrorists’
One user listed separate incidents that he defined as ‘the real domestic terrorists’