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Patriot Prayer

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Patriot Prayer are a conservative[1][2] advocacy group based in Portland, Oregon, United States.They have been described as being anti-government,[3] but state they oppose big government.[4] They have held rallies in support of free speech[5] as well as the presidency of Donald Trump,[6] in predominantly liberal areas, in which it has generally been significantly outnumbered by anti-racist and left-wing counter-protesters.[7] Some of the rallies have drawn controversy due to the attendance of white nationalists, which has lead to violent confrontations with counter-protesters,[8] however Gibson, a Japanese-American,[9] has repeatedly disavowed them and denounced racism.[10][11] The group describes itself as free speech advocates,[12] who are exercising their first amendment rights.[13] Patriot Prayer has been connected to the alt-right,[14] a charge Gibson denies.[15]

Overview

Described by the Associated Press and CNN as a right-wing group. [16][12] They have also been described as anti-government.[17] Patriot Prayer has held rallies from the San Francisco Bay Area[18] to Seattle,[19] in areas known as centers of liberal politics.[14]

According to the BBC Patriot Prayer have been connected to the alt-right as well as other far-right groups,[14] Gibson denies this saying the group is neither white nationalist or alt-right, saying they support “freedom, love and peace".[20] The group's stated aim is support of First Amendment, free speech and to “liberate the conservatives on the West Coast.”[21]

The San Jose Mercury News describes Patriot Prayer as a "right-wing group ... [whose] events ... have attracted white supremacists and ended up in violent confrontations among demonstrators on both sides."[22]

The Seattle Times and The Washington Post have described Patriot Prayer as a "pro-[Donald] Trump group".[23][24] According to The Weekly Standard, "In the early days, [Gibson's] rallies had overtly pro-Trump themes. These days, mentions of Trump have mostly been scrubbed from his own rhetoric, as he knows even invoking the name can be alienating."[25]

The Southern Poverty Law Centre(SPLC) does not list Patriot Prayer as a hate group, nor list Gibson as an extremist. [13] David Neiwert, writing for the SPLC's blog Hatewatch has accused Patriot Prayer of 'trolling' the northwest with the intention of provoking a response from far-left antifacists. Neiwert also commented on Gibson's denunciation of neo-Nazis and white supremacists at a rally held in Seattle on 13 August and that there had been no white nationalist members seen at that venue.[26] Neiwert has also noted that Patriot Prayer’s rally in Seattle of August 13, 2017 the day after the Unite the Right Rally in Charlotteville, saw the group’s leader, Gibson, denounce white supremacists and neo-Nazis. However, Gibson had attended a march which also which also saw members of Identity Evropa in attendance one week previously in Portland, Oregon.[27][28]

Valerie Richardson writing in the Washington Times has said that critics of Gibson have argued that his rallies, even though they are not sponsored by white nationalists do attract those with racist outlooks. The SPLC have noted that the organizers of the 7 August 2017 rally had “promised the critics who talked with them that racist elements had been denounced and uninvited from the rally.” but that the Proud Boys, and members of Identity Evropa (IE) as well as local IE leader, Jake Van Ott were seen at the event. Gibson says that people who are affiliated with IE have appeared at his events, but has made it clear they were unwelcome and has ejected them when possible. Gibson also says “It’s a constant problem because we get these random people that are trying to provoke and they’re trying to agitate,”[29]

Notable rallies

On April 29, 2017, Gibson organized a "March for Free Speech" in Portland, Oregon after organizers cancelled a planned parade due to fears of violence between opposing political groups.[30][31] Jeremy Joseph Christian, who was later arrested for the fatal stabbing of two men in an apparently racially-motivated attack, was seen at the march yelling racial slurs.[32][33] Gibson denounced Christian's actions and said he ejected Christian from the April 2, 2017, event due to his "bizarre behavior".[33]

Mayor Ted Wheeler asked organizers to cancel the rally, and his attempt to revoke the permit was unsuccessful.

A June 4 “Free Speech Rally” in downtown Portland[32][33] attracted a large counter-protest and 14 people were arrested, after Portland's mayor Ted Wheeler unsuccessfully sought to have the event's permit revoked.[34][35] According to The Washington Post, this rally provided "a vivid illustration of the city's divisions".[34] The rally caused controversy as it was scheduled one week after the stabbings by Jeremy Christian. The mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler had requested that federal authorities revoke the permit saying he was concerned over increasing tensions in the city due to the stabbings. The Federal Park Service denied the request, stating that the permit had been lawfully obtained weeks beforehand.[36] The Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union's legal director, Mat Dos Santos, said it was unconstitutional of Wheeler to attempt to prevent the demonstration based on the political and personal viewpoints of those who organized the event.[37]

The rally occurred in the midst of a national debate on the First Amendment, one which has seen violent clashes between right-wing and left-wing groups over appearances by contentious public figures, often in liberal cities such as Portland.[35]

A rally which was to be held at Crissy Field in San Francisco on 26 August 2017, was cancelled by Gibson, citing 'safety concerns'.[38][39] In response to allegations by Nancy Pelosi[13] that the event was a 'white supremacist rally', Gibson said "For those of you who believe we are seriously going to throw a white nationalist supremacist rally in San Francisco, it’s time for logic,” In a video posted to his Facebook page Gibson said, “We have a black speaker, two Hispanic speakers, we’ve got an Asian, a brown speaker right here (referring to himself) — we got a transsexual, and we aren’t talking about race.”[40]

Portland rallies

On April 2, 2017, approximately 300 people of both, supporters and detractors of President Donald Trump exchanged words, during a pro-Trump rally at Vancouver's Esther Short Park on Sunday afternoon, near Portland, but was relatively peaceful.[41] Security for the Patriot Prayer rally, "Rally for Trump and Freedom" was provided by the 3 Percenters (often spelled III%).[42][43]

On May 11 and 13, 2017, Patriot Prayer organized the attendance of a dozen "antifa watchers" at a protest at a south-east Portland grocery liquidator. Interviewed by The Oregonian, Gibson said the group were there to watch the protest and report any property damage, and that he attended "to start conversations".[44][45]

Just two weeks after the Portland train stabbing and when emotions were running high, Patriot Prayer held their "Free Speech Rally" on June 4, 2017, which drew massive counter-protests and resulted in 14 arrests.[46] By the end of the month Patriot Prayer gathered for their “Freedom March” on June 30, 2017, at the Portland Waterfront near the annual Blues Festival, and were met by counter-protesters. The often heated exchanges of the dueling rallies ended with minimal violence and no reports of arrests.[47][48][49]

On August 6, 2017, it was much smaller crowds for their “Freedom March” at Salmon Street Springs, Portland, but it followed the well-established pattern with a few arrests of counter protesters and a lot of shouting and chants from both the Patriot Prayer group and counter protesters.[50][51] Prior to the violence at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlotteville, the Patriot Prayer rallies featured "right-wing nationalists".[52][53] Since Charlottesville the group has tried to distance themselves from the alt-right[54][55] saying they were victims of unprovoked, left-wing violence.[56]

For the Sept. 10, 2017, Portland, “Peaceful Portland Freedom March”, Joey Gibson asked followers take a new non-violent approach though not all appear willing to go along[57] and the counter-protests also appear to be settling on a number of different measures depending on the organization.[58][59][60] In an attempt to out-maneuver counter-protesters, Patriot Prayer switched their planned march to Vancouver, Washington, just across the river from Portland and changed the time of the event; but a small cohort of followers intend to go to the original march site to provoke the counter-protesters. In another change, this once pro-Trump organization, will now be collecting charitable relief for the victims of the recent Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge, and the new rally is renamed, "Peaceful Vancouver Freedom March."[61] The small rallies drew large counter-protest crowds in both Portland and Vancouver with several arrests and the detention of the driver of a pickup that sped through a crowd of counter-protesters, no injuries were reported.[62][63] Among those drawn to the rallies were the militia-style Three Percenters, and the Proud Boys, a white nationalist group.[64][unreliable source?][65][62]

Following the cancellation of the rose parade due to threats of violence against the Multnomah County Republican Party who were to take part in the rally, allegedly from anti-fascist groups,[66] Gibson organized a 'March for Free Speech' to occur on the 29th of April 2017.[67] Gibson told the Guardian, "We are going to continue with our rally. There is no way that we will stop. It is even more important that we come out with a strong message of love.”[68] There were an estimated 60 counter protesters and police said there had been three arrests.[69]

Seattle area rallies

On May 1, 2017, Patriot Prayer went to counter-protest at Seattle’s May Day parade with their “Stand Against Communism” rally. The event(s) were mostly peaceful with arrests of counter protesters.[70]

The Patriot Prayer held anti-Antifa rallies in Portland in May 2017, with “Olympia stands against Antifa” in Olympia, Washington on May 6, signaling a shift outside of the Seattle or Portland proper.

On June 15, 2017, Patriot Prayer members held a rally at Evergreen State College, timed to coincide with one by the Evergreen Anti-Fascist Community Defense Network.[71] The former promoted solidarity with Bret Weinstein, whose critical comments about an event for racial awareness had ignited campus protests.[72] One arrest was made at the event after the vehicles of the group leader Joey Gibson and one other person had their tires slashed, allegedly by a member of Antifa.[73]

On August 13, 207 the group held the, “Freedom Rally Seattle” at Westlake Park with a large police presence to keep thousands of counter-protesters away. The dueling events came one day after the death and injuries in Charlottsville and tensions were high with arrests of counter protesters made by police.[74][75][76][77]

San Francisco Bay area rallies

On August 26, 2017, news of a planned Patriot Prayer press conference in San Francisco's Alamo Square Park drew over 1000 counter-protesters to the neighborhood. The group, which had already canceled a planned a rally at Crissy Field due to safety concerns, held the press conference in Pacifica instead.[78][79] Prior to the event, the group's leader, Joey Gibson, denounced white supremacists before an August 2017 rally, saying "Don't show up, you're not welcome."[80] Group organizers arrived at Crissy Field later that afternoon to talk with counter-protesters.[81] The next day, on August 27, 2017, Gibson made an appearance at the site of the cancelled "No Marxism in America" rally in Berkeley, California, where he was chased out of the park by counter-protesters. Several attendees were assaulted by members of Antifa.[82]

A September 26, 2017 Patriot Prayer demonstration near Sproul Plaza resulted in violence between the group and left-wing activists, including By Any Means Necessary (BAMN). The demonstration continued in a march to People's Park, where Kyle "Stickman" Chapman, a self-described American nationalist[83] and other Patriot Prayer speakers addressed what they called a war on whites and a "battle for Berkeley". Police made three arrests.[84]

References

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  30. ^ Hawkins, Derek (May 30, 2017). "Portland mayor asks feds to bar free-speech and anti-sharia rallies after stabbings". The Washington Post.
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  32. ^ a b "Portland pro-Trump rally organizer: "I can't control everybody"". CBS News. 31 May 2017.
  33. ^ a b c Wilson, Jason (29 May 2017). "Portland knife attack: tension high as 'free speech rally' set for weekend". The Guardian.
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  50. ^ Dowling, Jennifer. "Opposing groups clash in downtown Portland". KOIN News.
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  52. ^ "Alt-right protest organizer: 'Mayor will not convince me to cancel the rally'". Komo News. May 30, 2017.
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  64. ^ Schulberg, Jessica (September 14, 2017). "Man Accused Of Trying To Mow Down Antifa With Truck Claims It Was A Misunderstanding". Huff Post.
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  67. ^ Pein 2017. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFPein2017 (help)
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  70. ^ Morton, Neal (May 2, 2017). "Riots mar May Day in Portland and Olympia. In Seattle? Light up the 'peace joint'". The Seattle Times.
  71. ^ "One arrested after pro & anti-Trump demonstrators clash at Evergreen State College". Komo News. June 16, 2017.
  72. ^ Neiwert, David (June 16, 2017). "Evergreen State Protest By 'Patriot' Group Dwarfed By Angry Response". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  73. ^ Bancalari, Kellie (2017-06-30). "Evergreen State College looks to mend campus following protests". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  74. ^ Cohen, Stephen. "Police pepper spray, keep marchers away from right-wing group". PI newspaper.
  75. ^ "Live Feed". Kiro 7 News. August 13, 2017.
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  77. ^ "Photos: Anti-Nazi group rallies in downtown Seattle". Komo News. August 24, 2017.
  78. ^ "Rightwing group protests cancellation as San Francisco blocks rally venues". The Guardian. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  79. ^ Wong, Julia Carrie (August 25, 2017). "Party poopers: rightwing rally cancelled in San Francisco amid dog poo protest". The Guardian. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  80. ^ Kavanuagh, Shane (24 August 2017). "Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson takes his protest to San Francisco". Oregon Live. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
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  82. ^ Associated Press (August 27, 2017): The Latest: Berkeley protests over, police defend handling, The Washington Post
  83. ^ "3 arrested in Berkeley during Patriot Prayer march". KRON 4 News. September 26, 2017.
  84. ^ Veklerov, Kimberly; Tucker, Jill (September 26, 2017). "Fights break out between right, left as dozens march through UC Berkeley". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 26, 2017.

Bibliography

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