Mixed messages, mounting tensions as Proud Boys and antifa prepare to face off in Portland
As Portlands police chief released a podcast Thursday saying the city has become a magnet for demonstrators brawling over ideological differences and asking the community not to condone their violence, representatives of the right-wing Proud Boys sent their own statement to city officials and the media.
They claimed theyre not coming to Portland to cause problems but to expose the tactics of anti-fascists.
Joe Biggs, a Florida resident and a former staffer of the right-wing site Infowars who is organizing Portlands Aug. 17 End to Domestic Terrorism demonstration, said in an interview that hes now telling everybody to tone it down. Dont go too far. Lets show up. Lets be adult human beings.
In the next breath, Biggs added, Now if someone on the other side provokes us, then, yeah, were going to defend ourselves.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2019/08/chief-says-portland-is-becoming-a-magnet-for-brawling-political-protests-while-out-of-state-proud-boys-send-message-to-mayor-city-commissioners.html