{"id":285866,"date":"2021-08-24T15:13:24","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T15:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radiofree.asia\/?guid=2f6e53f8748b6c2f30beb479e4c6d502"},"modified":"2021-08-24T15:13:24","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T15:13:24","slug":"antifascists-stopped-proud-boys-from-entering-portlands-city-center-on-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/08\/24\/antifascists-stopped-proud-boys-from-entering-portlands-city-center-on-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"Antifascists Stopped Proud Boys From Entering Portland\u2019s City Center on Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"\"People<\/a>

The far right Proud Boys haven\u2019t stopped holding rallies in progressive urban areas, but their ability to draw crowds and take over city centers is being checked by antifascists looking to halt their growth.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, August 22, a number of people associated with the far right \u201cPatriot\u201d movement held a rally in Portland, Oregon, featuring the Proud Boys, members of Patriot Prayer<\/a><\/span> and unaffiliated supporters. One of its key organizers was Audra Price<\/a><\/span>, a member of a Pacific Northwest\u2013based \u201cpolice supporters\u201d group known as COPS NW, which organizes anti-Black Lives Matter rallies. Some of the organizations associated with the far right rally, such as the Proud Boys, are at the core of the recent spate of far right violence that has plagued both Portland and other cities around the country. As expected, numerous organizations and autonomous organizers prepared a series of interventions to challenge the far right rally, refusing to let the far right activists return to the city without objection.<\/p>\n

This clash between the far right and antifascists comes exactly a year after another clash<\/a><\/span>, in which Proud Boys and other far right groups rallied on the steps of the Justice Center in Portland in an effort to challenge the Black Lives Matter groups<\/a><\/span> that had been demonstrating there through the summer. On that day, police stood blocks away<\/a><\/span>, refusing to intervene as projectiles were hurled at antiracist protesters<\/a><\/span> and guns were drawn<\/a><\/span> on unarmed activists.<\/p>\n

Since 2016, far right groups have headed into Portland and other liberal cities, attempting to instigate conflict that would allow them to push a narrative about \u201cprotecting\u201d the cities from allegedly violent left-wing protesters.<\/p>\n

Part of the goal for antifascist and antiracist organizations in advance of the Proud Boy rally was to make such a public call for antifascist demonstrations and attention that the far right would back down from their attempt to enter the middle of the city.<\/p>\n

Preparing to Counter the Far Right<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On Friday, August 20, a coalition of a number of groups including Don\u2019t Shoot Portland, Interfaith Clergy Resistance, and the Oregon Justice Resource Center held a press conference in front of the city hall in an effort to draw attention to the fact that far right groups were again making Portland a target.<\/p>\n