8:51
- ABC News
- September 5, 2021
How Portland has become a far right centerpiece
Radical groups have been operating in state for decades.
8:51
Two days before the incident Wheeler held a Zoom news conference where he was joined by the civil rights groups and other community organizers and urged those who attended the event to, \"Choose love.\"
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who was also part of the news conference, said that officers would be in attendance but not keep the warring crowds separated.
\"People can and should keep themselves apart and choose to avoid violent physical confrontations,\" Lovell said during the news conference.
Representatives for Wheeler's office didn't immediately respond to messages left by ABC News asking for comment.
The mayor has repeatedly condemned both the far-right and the far-left groups and the public fights that have been going on for over a year.
\"Hate and hate groups have no place in our city. Violence has no place in our city. Bigotry has no place in our city. We will not tolerate acts of violence, destruction, prejudice or intimidation,\" he said during the Aug. 20 news conference.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/wheeler-gty-er-210901_1630519388619_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Miller said that the Portland Police have traditionally taken a laissez-faire approach to the far-right rallies, but this old tactic is feeding right into the group's goals.
\"Not only does that place communities in danger, but it also acts as a signal to the far right that their actions are essentially sanctioned by law enforcement,\" she argued.
In a statement to ABC News, Portland Police Sgt. Kevin Allen defended the department's actions that day, saying officers have to \"respond in an impartial manner, irrespective of political perspective, while respecting constitutional rights for all participants.\"
\"Unfortunately, over the past three years or so we’ve seen these events where two or more opposing sides arrive specifically to confront each other, and some engage in violence with one another,\" he said in a statement. \"That adds additional complexity, as we often get criticized for responding too much or too little, or responding in a way that is seen as favoring one side or another.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/portland-2-gty-er-210901_1630520503397_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Blazak said the police could have done a better job at separating the groups but acknowledged that the Portland Police Department's resources are limited. In June, the department's crowd control unit resigned after one of its officers was indicted for assaulting a protester, who had no ties to any radical group, last year.
Solutions
Even with the limited city resources, Blazak and other experts say there are strategies that law enforcement and organizers can implement to curb the violence between the far-right and the far-left.
The Department of Justice and other police forces in the country have implemented a system where far-right protesters and their opponents are separated by \"a football field length\" during the planned event, Blazak said.
\"It's to keep the groups separate, so there isn't direct contact. Therefore, those media images aren't created. Everyone gets free speech, but they don't have the right to street violence,\" he said.
Miller also said that keeping the groups as far apart as possible is the best solution and added that city officials and law enforcement need to be on the lookout for violent members who are known to attend rallies.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/portland-gty-er-210901_1630541961465_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Miller also said that there needs to be a stronger effort to stop counter-protesters and anti-fascist groups from playing into the far-right group's hands.
She noted that in several cities groups have protested the Proud Boys and other far-right groups with planned peaceful demonstrations, often with singing, where they ignore any instigation.
'They usually have a bigger crowd,\" Miller said. \"Not only does it drown out the far right, but it also strengthens community ties.\"
Ultimately, the experts said the community, police and other stakeholders will have to address the long-standing problem of Oregon's far-right and white supremacist organizations and their recruitments to their cause.
\"A lot of this work has to be done at a community level. Prevention work has to be done at the community level with people who are at most risk of being radicalized,\" Miller said.
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