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{{POV|date=September 2017}}
'''Patriot Prayer''' is a [[right-wing]], [[anti-government]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Lonnie|date=August 23, 2017|url=http://fox40.com/2017/08/23/rapper-work-dirty-prepares-for-patriot-prayer-rally-in-san-francisco/|title=Rapper Work Dirty Prepares for Patriot Prayer Rally in San Francisco|work=Fox 40 News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 27, 2017|url=http://fox2now.com/2017/08/27/san-francisco-marchers-celebrate-canceled-free-speech-rally/|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled ‘free speech’ rally|work=Fox 2 News}}</ref>{{rs|copy of CNN source|date=September 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Heather|first=Kelly|date=August 26, 2017|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/san-francisco-patriot-prayer-rally/index.html|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally|work=CNN News Alerts}}</ref> group based in [[Portland, Oregon]]. The organization is known for organizing rallies and protests in predominantly [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] areas, in which it has generally been significantly outnumbered by anti-racist and left-wing [[counter-protest|counter-protesters]].<ref name=SPLCAfterPortland>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/09/12/patriot-prayer-rally-again-heavily-outnumbered-again-ends-violence-close-call 'Patriot Prayer' rally again heavily outnumbered, again ends with violence, close call]. [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], 12 September 2017</ref><ref name="Nouvelage|2017">{{cite news|last1=Nouvelage|first1=Elijah|title='Victory': Thousands protest far right in San Francisco|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/thousands-protest-san-francisco-170827015700251.html|accessdate=3 September 2017|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=27 August 2017}}</ref> Some of the rallies have drawn controversy due to the attendance of [[White nationalism|white nationalists]], though the group's founder Joey Gibson, a Japanese-American, has repeatedly disavowed them and denounced racism.{{sfn|Wallace|2017}}{{sfn|CBS News|2017}}{{sfn|Elias|Gecker|2017}} Patriot Prayer has been connected to the [[alt-right]],<ref name="BBC Cancelled">{{cite news |title=San Francisco rally is cancelled by right-wing group |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41054935 |work=BBC News |date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> a charge Gibson denies.<ref name="Vercammen">{{cite news|last1=Vercammen|first1=Paul|title=14 arrested as the many extremes of Portland collide in protest|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/04/us/portland-protests/index.html|accessdate=23 September 2017|publisher=CNN|date=5 June 2017}}</ref> The group describes itself as advocating free speech,<ref name="Kelly|2017">{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Heather|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/san-francisco-patriot-prayer-rally/index.html|accessdate=4 September 2017|publisher=CNN|date=27 August 2017}}</ref>{{sfn|Wallace|2017}}<ref name=SPLCAfterPortland/> and opposing big government.<ref name="Komo">{{cite news|title=1,000+ expected at Portland protests Sunday; 'Patriot Prayer' leader changes location|url=http://komonews.com/news/nation-world/patriot-prayer-leader-changes-locations-to-thwart-counter-protests-in-portland-sunday|accessdate=21 September 2017|publisher=Komo News|date=10 September 2017}}</ref>
'''Patriot Prayer''' is a [[right-wing]], [[anti-government]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Lonnie|date=August 23, 2017|url=http://fox40.com/2017/08/23/rapper-work-dirty-prepares-for-patriot-prayer-rally-in-san-francisco/|title=Rapper Work Dirty Prepares for Patriot Prayer Rally in San Francisco|work=Fox 40 News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 27, 2017|url=http://fox2now.com/2017/08/27/san-francisco-marchers-celebrate-canceled-free-speech-rally/|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled ‘free speech’ rally|work=Fox 2 News}}</ref>{{rs|copy of CNN source|date=September 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Heather|first=Kelly|date=August 26, 2017|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/san-francisco-patriot-prayer-rally/index.html|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally|work=CNN News Alerts}}</ref> group based in [[Portland, Oregon]]. The organization is known for organizing rallies and protests in predominantly [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] areas, in which it has generally been significantly outnumbered by anti-racist and left-wing [[counter-protest|counter-protesters]].<ref name=SPLCAfterPortland>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/09/12/patriot-prayer-rally-again-heavily-outnumbered-again-ends-violence-close-call 'Patriot Prayer' rally again heavily outnumbered, again ends with violence, close call]. [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], 12 September 2017</ref><ref name="Nouvelage|2017">{{cite news|last1=Nouvelage|first1=Elijah|title='Victory': Thousands protest far right in San Francisco|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/thousands-protest-san-francisco-170827015700251.html|accessdate=3 September 2017|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=27 August 2017}}</ref> Some of the rallies have drawn controversy due to the attendance of [[White nationalism|white nationalists]], though the group's founder Joey Gibson, a Japanese-American, has repeatedly disavowed them and denounced racism.{{sfn|Wallace|2017}}{{sfn|CBS News|2017}}{{sfn|Elias|Gecker|2017}} Patriot Prayer has been connected to the [[alt-right]],<ref name="BBC Cancelled">{{cite news |title=San Francisco rally is cancelled by right-wing group |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41054935 |work=BBC News |date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> a charge Gibson denies.<ref name="Vercammen">{{cite news|last1=Vercammen|first1=Paul|title=14 arrested as the many extremes of Portland collide in protest|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/04/us/portland-protests/index.html|accessdate=23 September 2017|publisher=CNN|date=5 June 2017}}</ref> The group describes itself as advocating free speech,<ref name="Kelly|2017">{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Heather|title=San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/26/us/san-francisco-patriot-prayer-rally/index.html|accessdate=4 September 2017|publisher=CNN|date=27 August 2017}}</ref>{{sfn|Wallace|2017}}<ref name=SPLCAfterPortland/> and opposing big government.<ref name="Komo">{{cite news|title=1,000+ expected at Portland protests Sunday; 'Patriot Prayer' leader changes location|url=http://komonews.com/news/nation-world/patriot-prayer-leader-changes-locations-to-thwart-counter-protests-in-portland-sunday|accessdate=21 September 2017|publisher=Komo News|date=10 September 2017}}</ref>


Revision as of 05:17, 24 September 2017

Patriot Prayer is a right-wing, anti-government[1][2][unreliable source?][3] group based in Portland, Oregon. The organization is known for organizing rallies and protests in predominantly liberal areas, in which it has generally been significantly outnumbered by anti-racist and left-wing counter-protesters.[4][5] Some of the rallies have drawn controversy due to the attendance of white nationalists, though the group's founder Joey Gibson, a Japanese-American, has repeatedly disavowed them and denounced racism.[6][7][8] Patriot Prayer has been connected to the alt-right,[9] a charge Gibson denies.[10] The group describes itself as advocating free speech,[11][6][4] and opposing big government.[12]

Overview

Described by the Associated Press as a right-wing group,[8] Patriot Prayer has held rallies from the San Francisco Bay Area to Seattle,[13][14] in areas known as centers of liberal politics.[15]

According to the BBC, the group is "considered to be connected with the alt-right", although Gibson maintains that the group's message is unity and freedom of speech.[9] According to David Neiwert, writing in the Southern Poverty Law Center blog, Hatewatch, Patriot Prayer rallies have been held with "the clear intent of attempting to provoke a violent response from far-left antifascists". He has also described it as an "antigovernment" group.[15] The group's stated aim is support of First Amendment, free speech and to “liberate the conservatives on the West Coast.”[6][16]

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."[17] The rallies organized by Patriot Prayer have attracted white supremacists, including members of Identity Evropa, and resulted in clashes with counter-protesters.[18][19]

The Seattle Times and The Washington Post have described Patriot Prayer as a "pro-[Donald] Trump group".[20][21] According to the 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."[22]

The Southern Poverty Law Center does not list Patriot Prayer as a hate group,[9]instead noting, that Patriot Prayer’s rally in Seattle of August 13th, the day after the Unite the Right Rally in Charlotteville, saw the group’s leader, Joey Gibson, denounce white supremacists and neo-Nazis; but Joey Gibson marched with white nationalists, just the week before in Portland, Oregon.[23]

Free speech rallies, Portland

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.[24][25] 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.[26][27] Gibson denounced Christian's actions and said he ejected him from the event due to his "bizarre behavior".[27]

A subsequent “Trump Free Speech Rally” in downtown Portland[26][27], which according to The Washington Post provided "a vivid illustration of the city's divisions",[28] attracted a large counter-protest in which 14 people were arrested, after Portland's mayor Ted Wheeler unsuccessfully sought to have the event's permit revoked.[28][29]

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.[29] The atmosphere in Portland had also become tense after Christian's recent arrest for the train attack.[24][30][31] There have been violent attacks on those attending, the far-Right nationalist group, Patriot Prayer's rallies by Antifa in what has been described as an attempt to shut down free speech.[32]

Other 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.[33] Security for the Patriot Prayer rally, "Rally for Trump and Freedom" was provided by the 3 Percenters (often spelled III%)".[34]

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.[35]

The Patriot Prayer held anti-Antifa rallies in May of 2017, with “Olympia stands against Antifa” in Olympia, Washington on May 6th, and the other two, “Antifa Watch” rallies, in Portland, Oregon on May 11th and May 13th. These events attracted small groups of protesters and counter-protesters with little incidents.[36]

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.[37] The former promoted solidarity with Bret Weinstein, whose critical comments about an event for racial awareness had ignited campus protests.[38] 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.[39]

On June 30, 2017, Patriot Prayer gathered for their “Freedom March” on 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.[40][41][42]

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 and a lot of shouting and chants from both the Patriot Prayer group and counter protesters.[43][44]

Prior to the violence at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlotteville, the Patriot Prayer rallies featured "right-wing nationalists", such as The Proud Boys.[45][46] However, since Charlottesville, the group tried to distance themselves from the alt-right[47][48] and claimed to be the victims of left-wing violence without provocation.[49]

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 Charlotville and tenses were high with arrests made by police.[50][51][52][53]

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 rally at Crissy Field due to safety concerns, held the press conference in Pacifica instead.[54][55] 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."[56] Group organizers arrived at Crissy Field later that afternoon to talk with counter-protesters.[57] 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.[58]

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[59] and the counter-protests also appear to be settling on a number of different measures depending on the organization.[60][61][62] 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."[63] 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.[64][65] Among those drawn to the rallies were the militia-style Three Percenters, and the Proud Boys, a white nationalist group.[66][67]

References

  1. ^ Wong, Lonnie (August 23, 2017). "Rapper Work Dirty Prepares for Patriot Prayer Rally in San Francisco". Fox 40 News.
  2. ^ "San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally". Fox 2 News. August 27, 2017.
  3. ^ Heather, Kelly (August 26, 2017). "San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally". CNN News Alerts.
  4. ^ a b 'Patriot Prayer' rally again heavily outnumbered, again ends with violence, close call. Southern Poverty Law Center, 12 September 2017
  5. ^ Nouvelage, Elijah (27 August 2017). "'Victory': Thousands protest far right in San Francisco". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Wallace 2017.
  7. ^ CBS News 2017.
  8. ^ a b Elias & Gecker 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "San Francisco rally is cancelled by right-wing group". BBC News. August 26, 2017.
  10. ^ Vercammen, Paul (5 June 2017). "14 arrested as the many extremes of Portland collide in protest". CNN. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  11. ^ Kelly, Heather (27 August 2017). "San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally". CNN. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  12. ^ "1,000+ expected at Portland protests Sunday; 'Patriot Prayer' leader changes location". Komo News. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  13. ^ Phillips, Kristine (August 27, 2017). "Pro-Trump group cancels San Francisco rally as hundreds of counterprotesters march on the streets". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ Stelloh, Tim (August 13, 2017). "Right-Wing Rally Goes Ahead in Seattle Despite Violence in Virginia". NBC News.
  15. ^ a b Neiwert 2017. sfn error: multiple targets (4×): CITEREFNeiwert2017 (help)
  16. ^ Matarrese, Andy (July 2, 2017). "Joey Gibson aims to 'liberate conservatives' via his Patriot Prayer group". The Columbian.
  17. ^ May, Patrick (Aug 23, 2017). "Who's behind this weekend's right-wing rally at Crissy Field?". San Jose Mercury-News. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  18. ^ Parry, Hannah (April 19, 2017). "Outrage as white supremacist leader is caught on camera punching a woman in the face during bloody brawl at pro-Trump rally in Berkeley". Daily Mail.
  19. ^ Bivins, Mike (June 5, 2017). "Alt-right rally draws protests in Portland, Oregon". Aljazeera.
  20. ^ "Here's how downtown pro-Trump and anti-Trump demonstrations unfolded". The Seattle Times. 13 August 2017.
  21. ^ Phillips, Kristine (27 August 2017). "Pro-Trump group cancels San Francisco rally as hundreds of counterprotesters march on the streets". The Washington Post.
  22. ^ Labash, Matt (11 September 2017). "A Beating in Berkeley". The Weekly Standard.
  23. ^ Lanktree, Graham (August 17, 2017). "U.S. Authorities Consider Shutting Down Hard-Right Rallies After Charlottesville". Newsweek.
  24. ^ a b Hawkins, Derek (May 30, 2017). "Portland mayor asks feds to bar free-speech and anti-sharia rallies after stabbings". The Washington Post.
  25. ^ Pein, Corey (April 26, 2017). "Right-Wing Group Plans "Free Speech" March In Wake Of East Portland Parade Cancellation". Willamette Week.
  26. ^ a b "Portland pro-Trump rally organizer: "I can't control everybody"". CBS News. 31 May 2017.
  27. ^ a b c Wilson, Jason (29 May 2017). "Portland knife attack: tension high as 'free speech rally' set for weekend". The Guardian.
  28. ^ a b Sottile, Leah (4 June 2017). "Right-wing free speech rally draws massive counterprotests in Portland". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ a b Hansen, Kristena (4 June 2017). "14 arrested as pro-Trump rally draws massive counter-protests in Portland". Chicago Tribune. The Associated Press.
  30. ^ Kaleem, Jaweed (June 2, 2017). "Portland braces for violence at pro-Trump rally this weekend after white supremacist is charged with murder". The LA Times.
  31. ^ Sailor, Craig (June 3, 2017). "Portland braces for dueling protests that could turn violent Sunday". The Olympian.[dead link]
  32. ^ Crilly, Rob (22 September 2017). "Inside the shadowy far-left antifa movement, whose violent tactics threaten to shut down free speech in America". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  33. ^ Matarrese, Andy (April 2, 2017). "Trump rally guests, protesters square off in Esther Short Park". The Columbian.
  34. ^ Brown, Doug (April 2, 2017). "Photos & Video: Protesters Arrested at a Donald Trump Rally in Vancouver". The Portland Mercury.
  35. ^ Morton, Neal (May 2, 2017). "Riots mar May Day in Portland and Olympia. In Seattle? Light up the 'peace joint'". The Seattle Times.
  36. ^ Campuzano, Eder (May 12, 2017). "Dozens turn out to protest, bicker over Confederate flag in Southeast Portland". OREGONLIVE.
  37. ^ "One arrested after pro & anti-Trump demonstrators clash at Evergreen State College". Komo News. June 16, 2017.
  38. ^ Neiwert, David (June 16, 2017). "Evergreen State Protest By 'Patriot' Group Dwarfed By Angry Response". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  39. ^ Bancalari, Kellie (2017-06-30). "Evergreen State College looks to mend campus following protests". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  40. ^ Douglass, Joe (July 1, 2017). "Pro-Trump and anti-fascist demonstrators square off near Waterfront Blues Festival". KATU 2 News.
  41. ^ Dymburt, Andrew (June 30, 2017). "Patriot Prayer, Antifa face off in violent protest". KOIN 6 News.
  42. ^ "Violence breaks out at protests near Waterfront Blues Festival". OREGONLIVE. June 30, 2017.
  43. ^ Dowling, Jennifer. "Opposing groups clash in downtown Portland". KOIN News.
  44. ^ Neiwert, David (August 7, 2017). "Protest of 'left-wing violence' in Oregon draws small crowds as police make their presence scarce, leaving both sides to just shout at each other". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  45. ^ "Alt-right protest organizer: 'Mayor will not convince me to cancel the rally'". Komo News. May 30, 2017.
  46. ^ "Police: Federal reinforcements necessary for alt-right rally following stabbing". Komo News. June 1, 2017.
  47. ^ Elias, Paul. "Tense, peaceful exchanges among Berkeley rallies protesters". Komo News.
  48. ^ Mehlhaf, Nina. "Tracking the white supremacy movement in Oregon". KGW 8 News.
  49. ^ Matarrese, Andy (July 2, 2017). [hhttp://www.columbian.com/news/2017/jul/02/joey-gibson-aims-to-liberate-conservatives-via-his-patriot-prayer-group/ "PJoey Gibson aims to 'liberate conservatives' via his Patriot Prayer group"]. The Columbian.
  50. ^ Cohen, Stephen. "Police pepper spray, keep marchers away from right-wing group". PI newspaper.
  51. ^ "Live Feed". Kiro 7 News. August 13, 2017.
  52. ^ "Here's how downtown pro-Trump and anti-Trump demonstrations unfolded". Seattle Times. August 13, 2017.
  53. ^ "Photos: Anti-Nazi group rallies in downtown Seattle". Komo News. August 24, 2017.
  54. ^ "Rightwing group protests cancellation as San Francisco blocks rally venues". The Guardian. Associated Press. August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  55. ^ Wong, Julia Carrie (August 25, 2017). "Party poopers: rightwing rally cancelled in San Francisco amid dog poo protest". The Guardian. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  56. ^ Kavanuagh, Shane (24 August 2017). "Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson takes his protest to San Francisco". Oregon Live. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  57. ^ "After San Francisco and Berkeley rallies are scrapped, counter-protesters take over the streets". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  58. ^ Associated Press (August 27, 2017): The Latest: Berkeley protests over, police defend handling, The Washington Post
  59. ^ Shepherd, Katie (August 31, 2017). "Preacher Aligned with Portland-Area Far-Right Group Promises "Bloodshed" at Future Rallies". Willamette Week.
  60. ^ "Multiple rallies planned Sunday in downtown Portland". KGW 8 News. September 8, 2017.
  61. ^ "Portland braces for white nationalist protests Sunday". KION 6 News. September 8, 2017.
  62. ^ Brown, Doug (September 8, 2017). "Big Police Presence Expected at Sunday's "Patriot Prayer" Rally and Counter Protest". The Portland Mercury.
  63. ^ Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (September 9, 2017). "Portland protest leader Joey Gibson moves 'Patriot Prayer' rally expected to draw large counter demonstrations downtown". Oregonlive.
  64. ^ Shepherd, Katie. "Police in Vancouver Arrest Man for Nearly Running Down Antifa Protesters With His Truck". Willamette Week.
  65. ^ Vespa, Maggie. "Truck speeds between group of protesters in Vancouver". KGW 8 News.
  66. ^ Matarrese, Andy (September 10, 2017). "Protesters clash in Patriot Prayer demonstration on Vancouver waterfront". The Columbian.
  67. ^ Shepherd, Katie. "Police in Vancouver Arrest Man for Nearly Running Down Antifa Protesters With His Truck". Willamette Week.

Bibliography

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