Portland, Oregon — The serenity of downtown Portland will be tested yet again Saturday
afternoon. Stores began closing Friday night ahead of dueling protests
between groups of right-wing extremists and anti-fascist demonstrators.
Several
extremist groups are expected to show up, but no one has applied for
any type of permit. Police learned about the protest from monitoring
social media, and from what they read, there is concern for possible
violence
↚.
In recent years, Portland has become a magnet for
protests, some of them turning ugly. Several groups from the far-left
and far-right said they will converge in the city's downtown. Police
said its nearly 1,000 member force will be on duty.
"We recognize
these events can cause alarm, anxiety and even fear for certain members
of our community," said Lieutenant Tina Jones.
A riot in 2017
shattered store windows throughout downtown, leading to 25 arrests.
Residents said they've grown weary of the street battles.
"It's
sad to me because I think that a lot of people that come here to protest
don't actually live here or share a lot of values that I believe
Portland stands for," said resident Drew Edwards
↚.
The far-right event Saturday was organized by the "Proud Boys," a group the Southern Poverty Law Center designated as a hate group.
Police aren't sure which protest groups will show up, what they'll be
protesting about and if they're only coming to cause trouble.
"We
have seen a shift in the last few weeks in the rhetoric, and a
separation of those who want to engage in free speech and those who
intend to participate in acts of violence," Jones said.
- Portland's racist past smolders beneath the surface
Some
business owners said they hope to stay open on Saturday. Meanwhile, the
FBI will be on scene out of an abundance of caution.
President
Trump on Saturday said there was "major consideration" to name "Antifa"
an "organization of terror." Antifa is a collective name for
anti-fascist protesters. "Portland is being watched very closely.
Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!" Mr. Trump tweeted.
