On August 22, a group of far-right agitators held a “No To Marxism In America” rally in downtown PDX (coordinated with two other somewhat-more-innocuously-titled “Mother of All Back The Blue Rallies” intended to disguise the actual reactionary, and fascist rhetoric behind the events). This particular group of organizers is mostly a pathetic collection of rejects and cast-offs from various local far-right groups that have been staging violent incursions into Portland for years. Despite their overall lack of right-wing social capital, at last weekend’s downtown, this group proved themselves capable of often unprovoked, disproportionate, and potentially deadly violence, and they continue to pose a real threat to our community.
Whether it’s folks who learned about this event ahead of time and are already familiar with the assortment scumbags in attendance, or just passers-by who happen upon the rally and are disgusted by the racist and overtly reactionary rhetoric on display, people in Portland don’t let fascist organizing happen unchallenged and uncritiqued. By belief and by action, those attending this rally have chosen to position themselves in racist opposition to the movement for Black lives, and for that they should feel unwelcome wherever they are. They have also proven their enthusiasm to engage in reckless violence. But there is safety in numbers, so watch out and take care of those around you. Get together with friends and pack snacks, make signs, get familiar with who these people are. And don’t forget your mask!
Despite the fact that these organizers are largely ridiculed and despised even within their own movement, recent events have shown that they are hungry for violence and plan to take full advantage of the ongoing legacy of impunity offered by the state to far-right, fascist, and neo-Nazi agitators who have spent the past three years invading Portland intent on harassing and assaulting people.
