Board index › General Discussion › News and Current Events

Armed anti-lockdown protesters try to enter Oregon Capital

Page 1 of 3 [ 43 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

Previous topic | Next topic

ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Posts: 34,397
Location: Long Island, New York

21 Dec 2020, 7:16 pm

Armed Anti-Lockdown Protesters Just Tried to Storm Oregon's State Capitol

Quote:
Right-wing protesters, including many armed with AR-style rifles, angrily faced off with riot police in and around the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Monday morning, as lawmakers gathered to consider extending a moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was billed as an anti-lockdown protest, and intended to coincide with the lawmakers’ presence for a special legislative session. Right-wing activists, including Joey Gibson, who leads “Patriot Prayer,” a far-right group, seized on the closed-door event as an opportunity to protest ongoing lockdown orders and drum up complaints about transparency.

Some of the protesters were able to enter the building, and were seen on video walking around heavily armed. When riot police arrived, tensions escalated quickly and police deployed pepper spray, forcing protesters who were inside to leave. Meanwhile, protesters identified alternative entrances to the building.

At least two protesters were arrested at around 10:00 a.m., the Statesman Journal reported.

"At one point we used pepper balls,” Lt. Treven Upkes, a spokesperson for Salem Police Department, told the Statesman Journal. “I don’t know what else."

Other groups of protesters who made their way into another part of the building faced off angrily with riot police who blocked them from proceeding further.

Some in the crowd were seen holding pro-police Blue Lives Matter flags, but many protesters quickly became hostile towards law enforcement who were preventing them from making their way further into the building. “f**k you you pieces of s**t” one person shouted while ramming a door with a flag pole.

“You aren’t Americans, You’re f*****g working for the Chi-Coms,” shouted another, a reference to simmering conspiracy theories about the Chinese government infiltrating U.S. government agencies. One person in the crowd urged people to burn their Blue Lives matter flag, Jedeed reported on Twitter.

Earlier on, a livestreamer with the name Villain urged “antifa” to come join them.


Oregon State Police declare unlawful assembly as anti-lockdown protesters storm Capitol building, try to disrupt special session
Quote:
Protesters broke doors and some pushed their way into the locked building, leading to arrests.

According to Oregon Public Broadcasting:

The Oregon State Police declared an unlawful assembly as a growing number of protesters pushed their way through the Capitol doors chanting, "let us in" and "arrest Kate Brown." Police officers donned gas masks as they squared off with protesters, some of whom carried firearms and bear spray, and many of whom were not wearing masks.

The San Francisco Gate reported that according to police:

While entering the building, protestors used chemical agents and bear spray against officers. At least two people were arrested after a smaller group of protestors were successful in entering a portion of the Capitol building. Outside protesters banged their fists against the doors chanting, "Let us in."


_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity

It is Autism Acceptance Month

“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman


Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 21 Dec 2020, 7:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.

StayFrosty
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 10 Jun 2019
Age: 1935
Posts: 502
Location: California, United States

21 Dec 2020, 7:21 pm

Well, When you back someone into a corner they'll sometimes fight back.



AnonymousAnonymous
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 70,100
Location: Portland, Oregon

21 Dec 2020, 10:43 pm

This is yet another reason why I wish to have enough money to move to another state.

Oregon (regarding unlawful assembly) has become just as bad
as other states over the course of this year alone.


_________________
Silly NTs, I have Aspergers, and having Aspergers is gr-r-reat!


Tim_Tex
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2004
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 45,516
Location: Houston, Texas

21 Dec 2020, 11:03 pm

Why do they prefer Oregon as their place to do these things?

Are these people locals, or are they from out of town or out of state, just wanting to antagonize people?


_________________
Who’s better at math than a robot? They’re made of math!

Now proficient in ChatGPT!


ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Posts: 34,397
Location: Long Island, New York

22 Dec 2020, 6:41 am

Tim_Tex wrote:
Why do they prefer Oregon as their place to do these things?

Are these people locals, or are they from out of town or out of state, just wanting to antagonize people?

Because the state and local governments have enabled them. Instead of enforcing the law, these governments have demonstrated time and time again there is not much of a price to be paid for rioting. You let people get away with stuff they are going to keep on testing the limits. I read the area was called a "Patriot autonomous zone". Gee, I wonder where they got that idea from.


_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity

It is Autism Acceptance Month

“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman


King Kat 1
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 14 Aug 2020
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 264
Location: NW Ohio

22 Dec 2020, 8:38 am

This strikes me as odd, that some of these militant types are doing this in Oregon, it's quite a left leaning place(as well as expensive to live there). Michigan didn't shock to much, as you have a lot of anti government types in places like the upper peninsula and rural upper eastern area of the state.

I do feel people have the right to protest peacefully but coming in there armed with the purpose of frightening of intimidating people, crosses the line.


_________________
Strange is your language and I have no decoder, why don't you make your intentions clear?- Peter Gabriel


roronoa79
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 22 Jan 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,192
Location: Indiana

22 Dec 2020, 10:04 am

I'm not exactly a fan of the police, but I can't help but feel a little Schadenfreude at the thought of armed right-wingers with blue lives matter flags getting forcibly dispersed by the same police they treat as saints. I'm sure they'll find some conspiracy theory to explain the police not whole-heartedly supporting their right-wing agenda. Whether it's by accusing them of being Chinese agents or closet Marxists or whatever crackpot nonsense they come up with.

Honestly it makes sense to me that right-wingers are doing this in Oregon.
Oregon is solidly blue but this has led to the state's Right becoming somewhat disgruntled. Especially in east Oregon there are groups who want to secede from Oregon to form their own, more conservative state (usually called Jefferson).


_________________
Diagnoses: AS, Depression, General & Social Anxiety
I guess I just wasn't made for these times.
- Brian Wilson

Δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς ξυγχωροῦσιν.
Those with power do what their power permits, and the weak can only acquiesce.
- Thucydides


Tim_Tex
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2004
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 45,516
Location: Houston, Texas

22 Dec 2020, 12:01 pm

For that matter, how come we never see a large Antifa presence in red states?


_________________
Who’s better at math than a robot? They’re made of math!

Now proficient in ChatGPT!


Sweetleaf
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,461
Location: Somewhere in Colorado

22 Dec 2020, 1:59 pm

roronoa79 wrote:
I'm not exactly a fan of the police, but I can't help but feel a little Schadenfreude at the thought of armed right-wingers with blue lives matter flags getting forcibly dispersed by the same police they treat as saints. I'm sure they'll find some conspiracy theory to explain the police not whole-heartedly supporting their right-wing agenda. Whether it's by accusing them of being Chinese agents or closet Marxists or whatever crackpot nonsense they come up with.

Honestly it makes sense to me that right-wingers are doing this in Oregon.
Oregon is solidly blue but this has led to the state's Right becoming somewhat disgruntled. Especially in east Oregon there are groups who want to secede from Oregon to form their own, more conservative state (usually called Jefferson).


I am a little disappointed they didn't get the rubber bullets to the face and tear gas that left wing protestors who aren't brandishing guns get. I probably still would not support that, since it would be hypocritical. But there is the part of me that wouldn't hate to see it.


_________________
We won't go back.


goldfish21
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Feb 2013
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 22,612
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

22 Dec 2020, 3:48 pm

StayFrosty wrote:
Well, When you back someone into a corner they'll sometimes fight back.


You mean the police? :?

Exactly. Backed into a corner by lunatic protestors with guns & chemical weapons, they tear gassed/pepper sprayed some of them & arrested a couple. 8)


_________________
No :heart: for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.


Tim_Tex
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2004
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 45,516
Location: Houston, Texas

22 Dec 2020, 3:52 pm

I always thought people moved to the west coast to get *away* from the hard right, thus explaining the high demand for housing and high cost of living.


_________________
Who’s better at math than a robot? They’re made of math!

Now proficient in ChatGPT!


goldfish21
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Feb 2013
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 22,612
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

22 Dec 2020, 4:01 pm

Tim_Tex wrote:
I always thought people moved to the west coast to get *away* from the hard right, thus explaining the high demand for housing and high cost of living.


But clearly there are gun fanatics and militias there, too.. as per forum member sly279’s post. It’s not all hipsters, craft beer, weed & protesting grandmas.. it’s the people who hate them, too.


_________________
No :heart: for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.


Misslizard
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Age: 59
Gender: Female
Posts: 20,470
Location: Aux Arcs

22 Dec 2020, 4:55 pm

There are definitely pockets of racists out west.A family member was driving through Idaho and stopped at a motel for the night.He had tools in the truck so asked the man at the front desk if he could park near the office for the safety of his equipment and the man said, “Don’t worry, there aren’t any ni@@ers around here.”


_________________
I am the dust that dances in the light. - Rumi


funeralxempire
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 39
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 25,428
Location: Right over your left shoulder

22 Dec 2020, 4:55 pm

StayFrosty wrote:
Well, When you back someone into a corner they'll sometimes fight back.


Indeed, if these terrorist thugs keep behaving like this the state might need to aerate a few of them to teach the rest a lesson.


_________________
Watching liberals try to solve societal problems without a systemic critique/class consciousness is like watching someone in the dark try to flip on the light switch, but they keep turning on the garbage disposal instead.
戦争ではなく戦争と戦う


funeralxempire
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 39
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 25,428
Location: Right over your left shoulder

22 Dec 2020, 4:58 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:
roronoa79 wrote:
I'm not exactly a fan of the police, but I can't help but feel a little Schadenfreude at the thought of armed right-wingers with blue lives matter flags getting forcibly dispersed by the same police they treat as saints. I'm sure they'll find some conspiracy theory to explain the police not whole-heartedly supporting their right-wing agenda. Whether it's by accusing them of being Chinese agents or closet Marxists or whatever crackpot nonsense they come up with.

Honestly it makes sense to me that right-wingers are doing this in Oregon.
Oregon is solidly blue but this has led to the state's Right becoming somewhat disgruntled. Especially in east Oregon there are groups who want to secede from Oregon to form their own, more conservative state (usually called Jefferson).


I am a little disappointed they didn't get the rubber bullets to the face and tear gas that left wing protestors who aren't brandishing guns get. I probably still would not support that, since it would be hypocritical. But there is the part of me that wouldn't hate to see it.


On average, the police are more sympathetic to right wingers who are armed and willing to use deadly force against them than they are towards peaceful left wing protesters. How sad.


_________________
Watching liberals try to solve societal problems without a systemic critique/class consciousness is like watching someone in the dark try to flip on the light switch, but they keep turning on the garbage disposal instead.
戦争ではなく戦争と戦う


League_Girl
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 Feb 2010
Gender: Female
Posts: 27,205
Location: Pacific Northwest

22 Dec 2020, 5:05 pm

Tim_Tex wrote:
I always thought people moved to the west coast to get *away* from the hard right, thus explaining the high demand for housing and high cost of living.



There are right wingers everywhere. Oregon has them too. I am sure they did travel from rural area to the state capital to do their violent protests. After all lot of the rioters were from outside the area. Even the Trumpers who did their Trump parades were not from the area and they all came to the area from all over to do their march here in Portland.


_________________
Son: Diagnosed w/anxiety and ADHD. Also academic delayed.

Daughter: NT, no diagnoses.