PORTLAND REPORTBACK!
Anti-fascists taunted fascists with megaphones and chants, and the
Unpresidented Brass Band provided a situationally-appropriate
soundtrack, complete with “sad trombone” effects and a sousaphone every
time one of the braver fash decided to “come talk” to the anti-fascists.
Signs and banners were everywhere, and the bloc was a sprawling front
line of roving fighters. The air was electric and numbers were clearly
on our side, which always leads to one thing—state repression. One small
group of anti-fascists were attacked by the fash, so the police
responded by emptying what appeared to be pepper ball guns at the anti-fascists. This set the tone for the subsequent actions of the police. [..]The fascists formed a self-described phalanx, which took about twenty
minutes to assemble, and then immediately began marching towards
Chapman Square at full speed. The initial clashes were mitigated by
police presence and the speed of the marchers, but there were visible
amounts of trash and sticks flying through the air. The fascists turned
towards the river, then turned back towards their original direction. It
initially looked like they were establishing a serpentine reach, but
instead they stopped after several blocks. Anti-fascist demonstrators
kept up with them the entire time, but kept a city block between both
parallel marches. Anti-fascists grabbed street signs, barricades,
construction barriers, and large sheets of wood to create barricades
every time the fash attempted a charge. Then, as the fascists stopped
and turned several blocks later, both groups began marching towards each
other. A small group of anti-fascists broke off and there was a scuffle, followed by the anti-fascist charge.It’s important to note that the fascists charged through police lines
with the express intention of attacking anti-fascist demonstrators. And the police allowed them to. Remember all that equipment? Nothing was deployed against the attackers. [..]There were multiple beatdowns from both sides during this
initial charge, and both sides peeled back momentarily. The fash let
their front line venture too far into the anti-fascist line, and they
realized it and turned back. The police immediately used flash-bang
grenades. Five minutes later, the clash was a declared a riot.[..]
Finally, when the crowds arrived back at the original location (Terry
Schrunk and Chapman Square), the state was able to repress most of the
anti-fascist defense, while allowing the fascists to continue attacking
intermittently.
Since the demonstration had been declared a riot, state
forces effectively cancelled the Patriot Prayer event by forcing both
groups to march on the sidewalks. In the final scene, the remaining
anti-fascists chanted “BYE BYE NAZIS” as the fascists mounted the
singular vehicle they’d arrived in. [..]It is worth noting the degree of collaboration between the fascists, the
police, and the state. All three groups were visibly interfacing,
coordinating, and collaborating.Still, today in Portland anti-fascists had the numbers and the spirit on
our side. Anti-fascists gave no platform and no space, and even the
state couldn’t protect the fash—although they tried as hard as they
could to do so.
CrimethInc. : Portland Holds It Down Against Fascists and Police : The Clashes of June 30, 2018
QueerAnarchism 