Photo via @Johnnthelefty/Twitter, @alsoconnor/Twitter
August 24, 2021, 10:26 am
A group of Proud Boys descended on Portland, Oregon over the weekend for some kind of trouble-making rally — a popular summer activity for the violent gang of right-wing men — and attacked counter-protesters, leading to an hour-long street battle with anti-fascists. Though there were no fatalities, the Proud Boys severely beat an individual in a truck, destroyed at least two vehicles, and one of them ended up in a gunfire exchange with an anti-fascist after pulling a pistol and shooting at people on the street.
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Though the vast majority of the day was a horrifying spectacle demonstrating just how awful the Proud Boys are, there were a couple bright spots, including when Proud Boy leader Tusitala “Tiny” Toese got sprayed all over his front with white paint as he tried to attack people and then cried about it on camera.
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In the footage, Toese can be seen charging a group of anti-fascists with a bat, getting absolutely nailed with paint as he attempts a couple sad swings, then running away like the Proud Boy he is.
Toese is well-known by anti-fascists as a common participant in various rallies and other excuses to assault people put on by far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer that have been terrorizing the Pacific Northwest for years. He has already been imprisoned multiple times for assault and violating his probation and expects to be arrested again, judging by a tearful statement made to a camera after his failed attack, still covered in white paint.
He was particularly upset that the police didn’t come out and help the Proud Boys, which has happened in the past.
“To all those cops out there at the moment, you put that, f—ing duty down and stand down because of the orders from a tyrant?” he said. “You’re a disgrace to that f—ing patch. Throw it down and f—ing walk out. Because we’re sick and tired, and I know days from now I might be arrested.”
Portland police were conspicuously absent during the brawling and beating and vehicle-destroying after Mayor Ted Wheeler warned that the department would not intervene, asking Proud Boys and anti-fascists to keep themselves apart and “choose love.” This was widely regarded as a bizarre decision on the part of Wheeler considering the fact that everyone knows the Proud Boys are always itching to fight and anti-fascists, who are dedicated to community defense, will not let them go around assaulting people unchallenged.
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Regardless, police did not show up until the active shooter event occurred.
In the past, Oregon police have been caught directly collaborating with and assisting Proud Boys, giving them information on where to go in order to avoid arrest for their violent actions, so it makes sense that the lack of support might surprise Toese, even to the point of tears.
*First Published: August 24, 2021, 10:26 am
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