Trump’s Crusade Against the Portland Antifa started in the first term

When Trump first won, the city entered the sights of the ultra -conservatives. In 2016, during Trump’s campaign, Republican Joey Gibson founded the far-right group Patriot Prayer. Although he resident in the state of Washington, he decided to hold an extremist rally in Portland in May the following year, attracting supporters from across the country, such as the Proud Boys.

Since then, a series of Patriot Prayer marches have occurred in Portland, causing the anger of antifascists. In 2018, one of the clashes through the city streets ended with the stabbing of a protester.

The following year, an anti -fascist countereight caught Trump’s attention. For the first time, he referred to the antifa as “terrorist”.

Troops occupy Portland

The antifa demonstrations increased in the city after George Floyd’s death by asphyxia in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The murder of the 46 -year -old black man by a white policeman caused protests for 85 nights in a row in Portland.

That’s when Trump sent troops to occupy the city for the first time. The arrival of federal agents in July increased the indignation of the Antifa, which began to confront the violent performance of federal forces, causing chaos through the streets of Portland. The truculence of the agents resulted in investigations by the Justice Department.