THREAD: More images from tonight's "Church at Planned Parenthood" incident in Salem, which saw the Proud Boys mace anti-fascists in broad daylight with impunity.
Here's what went down, apart from my previous thread.
Here's what went down, apart from my previous thread.
The "church service" is a monthly phenomenon in Salem created by Ken Peters, who pastors Covenant Church in eastern Washington. The organization compares abortion to a holocaust which it protests every month outside of NE Salem's Planned Parenthood.
Recently, the event has been flanked by The Proud Boys, a far-right "Western Chauvinist" group which attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6
Its July 16 "service" was the first to see mass anti-fascist opposition in broad daylight. It also saw a squad of Proud Boys arrested on multiple assault charges.
This time? Not so much.
This time? Not so much.
One anti-fascist counter protester, seen here, was thrown to the ground by Salem police as they hit the scene after The Proud Boys threw down with anti-fascists, spraying pellets and mace.
The police were present for roughly two hours before they made an appearance.
The police were present for roughly two hours before they made an appearance.
A couple of notable actors from the weekend violence in Portland days ago made an appearance. Artur Pawloski, a far-right Canadian pastor and anti-abortion figure, spoke.
He previously led the two-day rally along the Tom McCall Waterfront in PDX that spurred hours of violence.
He previously led the two-day rally along the Tom McCall Waterfront in PDX that spurred hours of violence.
Tusitala "Tiny" Toese, a regular at Proud Boy rallies, was also there. He was charged with assault in 2020 for punching an anti-fascist protester in Portland in 2018.
He was released from prison in Dec. 2020 and is no longer on probation.
He was released from prison in Dec. 2020 and is no longer on probation.
Most of the Proud Boys and non-churchgoers gathered were dressed for battle. Not sure about all of the fashion choices, though.
There was at least one attendant on the Proud Boys side wearing a hat saying "Oregon State Sheriffs Association."
Looked like official merchandise. Previous thread of mine shows him holding one of the bigger assault rifles in the crowd.
Looked like official merchandise. Previous thread of mine shows him holding one of the bigger assault rifles in the crowd.
As noted above, some of the pellet guns were decked out with clear, orange markings following the incident with the "air-soft" gun in Portland last weekend.
Anti-fascist ranks swelled to about 50 this time around. Not counting churchgoers, The Proud Boys gathered about two dozen.
Both groups were more multiracial than usual. Tonight marked the first time in a while counter-clergy witnessed against the Proud Boys.
Both groups were more multiracial than usual. Tonight marked the first time in a while counter-clergy witnessed against the Proud Boys.
Anyway, I'll have a proper story coming out tomorrow. And if you're dying to know, no windows were broken tonight.
A few incensed residents at the neighboring apartment complex wondered aloud why the police allowed this to happen.
And I do know how much overtime taxpayers are paying the Salem police. Look out for that.
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