Good morning America! It is May 2nd and I am up hideously early to report on the pro-Coronavirus, anti-lockdown rally occurring in Salem.
The actual rally doesn't start till noon but ralliers in PDX are meeting up early to caravan out to Salem.
The actual rally doesn't start till noon but ralliers in PDX are meeting up early to caravan out to Salem.
Despite exhortations by some right wing activists that people should only attend if they are healthy, at least one attendee has posted online about his intention to show up after testing positive.
Folks are advised to give this gathering a wide berth. (Credit @161EUG)
Folks are advised to give this gathering a wide berth. (Credit @161EUG)
Oregon is one of the states that has responded best to the outbreak, due to its low population and fairly early shutdown.
A may day anti lockdown protest was also planned for yesterday, but it gathered very few if any participants. Today promises to be different.
A may day anti lockdown protest was also planned for yesterday, but it gathered very few if any participants. Today promises to be different.
We are here at the rallying point in SE Portland, where a crowd of 14 or 15 vehicles has gathered. Hard to estimate numbers but probably in the two dozenish range right now.
There appear to be 17 or 18 vehicles now and I think that is all we are gonna get for this meet up point. Folks are lining up to caravan out. I'll check back in once we hit Salem.
Close shot of the most decorated car here. Not sure what "cd1" means. Chlorine dioxide maybe?
Here we gooooooo
I'm here at the capital. The demonstration hasn't started yet but a small group of open cary protesters are posted up here. At least one guy wearing a plate carrier.
Blue Lives Matter flag deployed.
Here at the front of the Capital the protesters have started to gather. Somewhere between 30 and 40 of them so far.
This guy is an early contender for the 'largest sign' award.
Vehicles are streaming in pretty regularly. This video should give you a pretty decent idea of the overall scene.
Healthcare protesters have gathered on the steps of the capital. In this video you can hear one man heckling them.
Healthcare workers have formed a line at the front of the Capital building. In this video you can hear one man heckle them.
And here we see some Qanon graffiti on the Lewis and Clark monument.
Fun folks here.
This is the first and so far only sign of police presence I've seen.
This guy is the only person I've seen openly carrying a rifle so far today. But I'm sure more will arrive.
We had a very friendly conversation about his rifle. He had a Colt lower receiver, if you are curious. It is an old cop rifle.
We had a very friendly conversation about his rifle. He had a Colt lower receiver, if you are curious. It is an old cop rifle.
The Lee Greenwood brigade has arrived.
Things are filling out and the vehicle protest is in full swing. Wait around till the end for a big Qanon jeep.
The Healthcare worker counterprotest has filled out as well.
"My business my choice."
Q sent him.
No social distancing and mostly no mask. Curious how Andy Ngo feels about this.
More Qanon: now in flag form.
Flow of traffic is constant and so is the rain. At least 200-300 in the crowd out of their cars. 45 to go before the official start.
A second Gun Guy has arrived. They are comparing rifles.
It is straight up pissing rain. The Healthcare workers are holding fast.
The signs are starting to melt in the downpour.
Not really sure what is going on here.
I would say definitely more than 500 people in attendance with half an hour to go till start.
This is interesting. One protester has a sign that just says RIOT and an ACAB helmet.
Another 4 militia guys with rifles posted up here.
Pretty clear messaging from this gun guy.
I'd say around 6 open carriers so far, maybe more.
Be prepared I guess.
Speeches have started. Not super audible over the cars. This guy wants us to cancel our debt with China. He is angry we don't use "American steel" and hates "Chinese masks".
Pretty significant Proud Boy presence today.
Also some Anti Vax folks.
For some reason my friend has decided to pop in a 60 round mag for his rifle.
"If shit pops off I've got 310 rounds." He tells me.
"If shit pops off I've got 310 rounds." He tells me.
This guy also has a drum. He doubled up the mags in his pocket too.
"So I can lay down some fire" if he needs to. His friend comments that he can also gut "them" with the large combat knife on his chest.
"So I can lay down some fire" if he needs to. His friend comments that he can also gut "them" with the large combat knife on his chest.
The crowd just ran through the pledge of allegiance.
Someone brought a dump truck.
On an aural level, this protest may be the most obnoxious thing I have witnessed.
They love the angry dump truck man. His speech is well received.
Let's play a fun game called "how many times does this guy's rifle barrel sweep people's legs in 20 seconds".
I support herd immunity.
Goddammit that is depressing.
This guy says everyone needs to form a militia to overthrow Governor Kate Brown. He ties the death of Lavoy Finicum to Uranium One and Hillary Clinton.
The dump truck man has returned, louder than ever.
Bullhorns are hard.
This sign says 'fuck old people'.
People are climbing into the dump truck to hug the driver. He has made a number of mocking references to social distancing.
Here we see the rare anti-lockdown pro-hemp protester.
I had to get video of this line of cars running over a flagpole eagle.
We got us a Boogaloo boy in a skullmask.
And here is his friend in a Hawaiian shirt.
He is repeatedly sweeping his friend's leg with his rifle.
I keep running into shofars this year.
Here we have a skull mask guy with a Kekistan flag patch, based off the Nazi Kriegsmarine flag. He is standing right in the middle of the Healthcare workers.
This woman has decided to start abusing nurses.
This is what it is like to stand where the Healthcare workers are standing. Multiple crowd members hurling abuse. A Native American activist and left wing activist interposed themselves between the nurses and hecklers.
Here we see some physical aggression from one member of the crowd.
Free Covid Hugs.
The crowd has started to thin out significantly. Still a pretty steady stream of cars though.
This guy managed to sweep all his friends with the barrel of his rifle in just ten seconds. Impressive!
I never thought I would see one of these shirts in the wild.
Love to casually angle the barrel of my weapon at my friend's dick.
My friend was physically assaulted and threatened with murder by Chris Ponte. We are heading out for the day. Video later. Rally seems to be winding down.
This video, from Ponte's own livestream, shows him pushing a local photographer and making veiled threats ("sixteen months" is the amount of time until he is off parole for the assault he committed)
In case you want clarification about what "sixteen months" means, one of Ponte's friends makes it clear.
