Thread by @IwriteOK

Hey friends, today is another protest day in lovely Portland. An Alliance of white nationalists, including Patriot Prayer, American Guard and the Proud Boys are expected to assemble. So far it is a quiet, calm and cool August Saturday.

Countering the white nationalists is a coalition of antifascists, including Pop Mob, Rose City Antifa and the NAACP. They are starting the day with a multi faith prayer meeting, organized by Pop Mob. It opens with a Buddhist peace prayer.

The biggest pre rally news is the arrest of numerous Patriot Prayer members on rioting charges stemming from the May Day Cider Riot attacks. Joey Gibson, the group founder, was in jail yesterday.

Other members, like Russell Schultz, are fugitives today.

The white nationalists have been spotted across the street. This appears to be Haley Adam's group. A source tells me roughly 100 of them are present down the road.

No significant police presence yet but that will change.

Haley's group includes several uniformed Proud Boys. This is interesting, because there was major beef- and even threats- between the two groups earlier this year.

Reggie Axtell says this group is the "tip of the spear". Haley claims they are "Portland's liberation".

This group plans to stand and wait for the larger mass of Proud Boys to march to them.

The planned route of march will take them through Pop Mob and the assembled antifascists.

This is Vinicuz. Note the patch on his chest. He wants Antifa designated a domestic terrorist group, because of the Dayton shooter. He flashes the OK symbol with regularity, claiming "it just means OK"

He planned to join the army at one point, but didn't.

This is Vinicuz. Note the patch on his chest. He claims to be here in the hope that the government declares Antifa a terrorist group. He claims the Dayton shooter was a member of the group.

He tells us he planned to join the military at one point but didn't quite.

And here is Black Bloc, marching parallel to the Proud Boy position.

Haley's Proud Boys are advancing on Pop Mob's position.

This was the scene. The Proud Boys were met by mostly prayer.

Portland Police took Reggie's flag pole. He tells "the Portland police let black bloc march through with riot gear. We were trying to get away from them."

The reality is that this group marched through the antifascist demonstration and were unmolested.

The Proud Boys have posted up under a bridge, where they are going media appearances with out of state reporters.

Across the street, Pop Mob's demonstration has grown to several hundred.

One member of Haley's crew brought out a Qanon flag. She was immediately swarmed by reporters wanting to take a picture of it.

A small group of "Patriots" and 3%ers have assembled on the other end of the waterfront. This is the group that is claimed to eventually reach 100 people or so.

Not seeing those numbers yet. Some members are on oxygen and unlikely to march.

More Qanon signage posted.

Someone is playing "Atlantic City" on a boombox, which bums me out because that song rules.

Rumor has it that Tara LaRosa's Proud Boy contingent are on a bus, possibly this one. Some expect them to rally at Terry Schrunk and march down. The closing of the Hawthorne bridge appears to have delayed them.

Proud Boys have gathered in loud prayer. Most of it appears to focus on blood "the blood of Calvary", "the red blood that ran down Jesus's side" etc.

The bridge has been opened and the Proud Boys have been allowed to cross. This makes the police movements make sense.

A sizable quantity of Proud Boys have been stopped by PPD on the bridge. Certainly appear to be over 100.

Spotted my first Infowars shirt!

Just notice the sheer volume of cameras that surrounds any dust up where fighting looks likely.

A single shirtless man, shouting incoherently, approached the Proud Boys. He was surrounded by antifascists who stood in between them trying to prevent a fight. Masked antifa have arrived. A situation is developing.

In this video you can clearly see how it started.

So far the face to face action is nonviolent. This street preacher, speaking in tongues, who previously led the Proud Boys in prayer, has been allowed to march through the antifascist lines.

The Proud Boys have descended the bridge and are on the other side of the barricades from most of the antifascists. Another set of lines has developed.

This right wing journalist is livestreaming from inside the antifascist lines. People have argued with him but no fists thrown.

Black bloc have assembled under the Hawthorne bridge. They are moving into position opposite the police.

A new set of shouting lines has formed.

This dude in a Grunt Style shirt tried to cross the lines and get into some shit with the antifascists. Police pulled him back.

Haley Adams and the Proud Boys marched through Pop Mob's demonstration. Despite the provocation there was no fighting, fairly little shouting. they were met with mostly prayer.

It's hard to estimate the total number of antifascists gathered. From inside the scrum it looks like well over 500. Antifascist numbers seem to increase at every one of these gatherings.

A small group of far right demonstrators marched through the antifascist lines without violence. One masked black bloc dude did critique their choice in pepper spray.

A gaggle of segway riding tourists just hit the demonstration and turned right the fuck around. Lol welcome to Portland kids.

One Proud Boy posted up on the bridge. Intense heckling, but no violence.

A banana clad marching band, with attendant "don't tread on me" banana sign, has arrived.

A banana marching band has arrived. Their presence has successfully pulled folks back from the front and seems to have escalated somewhat.

White Nationalist Joe Biggs has spent most of this rally marching back and forth through antifascist lines. He is, again, being shouted at, but no violence has been done to them.

Biggs considers the Proud Boys to be cowards for staying behind the barricades

The police pulled back, likely because the Proud Boy rally retreated. Again, everything has been peaceable so far. I am leaving the waterfront to find the wignats.

Look at this police presence and remember we are in Portland fucking Oregon.

The antifascist march has to number well over 1000 people. They are marching now past SW Naito and Salmon. Sources telling me the Proud Boy rally is supposedly over. But who knows. It certainly seems that the antifascists are owning the streets right now.

Another right wing livestreamer, trying to win the Andy Ngo lottery, is chased out of the parade. Note the bubble wrap screens antifascists use to block him from view and deny him attention.

A small contingent of antifascists, following and trying to calm down a shouting shirtless man, approach the Proud Boy lines.

The march is done and the antifascists are heading back to the stage to put on a show.

We've followed in the wake of the protest. A small group of Anons and Qanon believers have thrown together a tiny picket of their own. Antifascists focus on blocking them from view.

A small group of fascists march through antifa. No violence, but one masked antifa guy critiques their choice of pepper spray.

I want people to pay attention to the strategy here. The banana band approaches the tensest part of the line, and effectively draws people off, easing pressure on the front line.

This guy is back. He may just have been praying with the proud boys because he prays with everyone. Kinda hard to tell but he has been all over today.

Back at the stage we have Woody Guthrie style folk music. Currently a rendition of "Sticking to the Union". This guillotine display represents the most "violence" I have seen thus far.

Meanwhile several hundred black bloc are attempting to cross the bridge to confront the Proud boys who may or may not be there

We are walking peaceably down the street. No black bloc even in view. Police warn us that if we do not get off the public sidewalk they will use impact munitions on us. Fun.

I should note that police are driving in the wrong lane of the bridge. They are literally the only ones blocking traffic.

Someone set off a smoke bomb!

Ah. We found black bloc again. And more smoke bombs

Police threaten to arrest black bloc if they stay in the road. They've been playing this song a while. Most of the bloc are staying on the sidewalk though. No Proud Boys in sight

Police are about to kettle us around MLK.

I found a clown!

Police are attempting to split up the bloc. So far protesters have mostly kept out of the road. Again, this has been nonviolent so far. Quite a police presence to keep people from legally crossing the street.

The Bloc continues to march. Holes are made in the line to allow for locals to pass through. Police seem to have given up trying to split the bloc and now just following us

This has sort of turned into an antifascist victory lap.

We are headed North, back across the bridge.

There is a constant flurry of rumors as to where the Proud Boys are. Seems like most if not all have left Portland.

A lot of antifascists in bloc say this is their first or second March. The sheer number makes that seem likely.

I am back on the other side of town. There have apparently been some arrests and fights. This is happening all over the city now. Small gaggles of Proud Boys being confronted by antifascists.

Jordan Jackson sent me this image of a man shot by police pepperballs.

Here is his video.

And almost by accident we found Gibson.

Police just arrested someone for trying to drown out Joey Gibson by revving their engine.

Here is what Gibson has to say about the Cider riot attacks.

I asked Joey how he felt about the woman who was arrested for revving her engine. He said he didn't support it. Seems like Joey has become a jail abolitionist.

Joey Gibson has left in his car. So that's nice.

Here is a brief talk with Joey.

Joey Gibson has left the building. And I am going for a damn beer. That's all from me! Check with @jason_a_w and @shane_burley1 for more.

Police try next to split the crowd with bicycles.

The police shadow us all the way but definitely seem to have given up on splitting the bloc. Antifascists have gotten good at staying together in these street movements.

I talked to Joey.

Here is a little talk with Joey Gibson about American Guard.

There are still disturbances in Yamhill. I'm here. Police have declared it a civil disturbance.

Police flanking the bloc on all sides as they March.

I'm back. Demos have continued on Yamhill. One car tried to back out. This Proud Boy on a bike (a regular attendee) blocked her to try to make protesters look bad.

Police are quite pissed atm.