Antifa, BLM Activists Armed With Rifles Block Traffic, Assault Drivers in Portland

Police detain passengers of a van linked to rioting, in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 11, 2020. Nathan Howard/Getty Images

A large group of Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with people this week during a march in Portland and at least one person was hospitalized for reasons that were not specified, police said.

The confrontations between protesters and citizens happened in broad daylight on Wednesday and involved multiple people and separate cases.

At least two of the incidents were captured on video, showing armed protesters getting into a conflict with two drivers who appear to attempt to drive through their march.

In one such incident, armed protesters surrounded a red Interstate Dodge Chrysler, slashed the tires of the vehicle, broke the rear window, and held the driver hostage after accusing him of “driving through their protest,” according to a video that was posted on video sharing platform BitChute.

Dispatchers with the Portland Police Bureau also said they received multiple calls from people that were driving in the area and got blocked by a crowd of protesters.

“One person said people in the crowd broke out their vehicle windows, damaged tires, and sprayed them with some kind of irritant,” police said in a press release.

Police were also called near North Interstate Avenue and North Killingsworth Street after someone reported that a pedestrian was hit by a car in relation to the protesters marching in the streets.

“As officers arrived they did not find any pedestrians who claimed to have been struck,” police said. “The large group had moved away, still walking in nearby streets, some openly carrying firearms.”

In another incident that was captured on video, a crowd of protesters—mostly dressed in black clothing and some carrying weapons—are seen yelling at the driver of a red Ford pickup truck, who was reportedly armed with a gun.

A voice is heard yelling at the driver to put his gun down, which he appears to be following, while also responding to one of the protesters to stop pointing his gun at him.

“You got about five seconds to lower that [explicit] weapon,” the driver is heard yelling at the protester, who at first does not to follow the order and continues to point his rifle at him.

“You point a [explicit] weapon at me,” the driver of the vehicle continues to shout. It is unclear according to the footage about how the confrontation started or who raised their weapon first.

After the brief verbal altercation, the unidentified driver gets back inside his truck as he tries to leave the scene, but protesters surround the truck and kick his car, prompting him to get out of his truck again.

As the driver exits his vehicle, protesters tackle him to the ground after he appears to draw his gun.

“Get the weapon!” “Get him on the ground!” a voice is heard shouting in the video. It is unclear if he actually pointed a weapon.

Authorities in Portland said they are collecting as many statements as possible and are now seeking more information from witnesses about the incidents.

According to the video, it appears the driver of the Ford got blocked by a vehicle of the crowd showing signs of “BLM” and “justice for Patrick Kimmons”—a 27-year-old black man who was fatally shot by two police officers after Kimmons fired five shots and wounded two men at a parking lot near a strip club in Portland over two years ago.

The shooting was determined lawful and in self-defense by a grand jury who reviewed investigative files and video footage from security cameras overlooking the parking lot. Both officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing about one month after the incident.

From NTD News