Dan Crenshaw rips Antifa for their ‘sad showing’ in Portland

Rep. Dan Crenshaw has called out antifa activists in Portland, Oregon, as ‘a sad showing of where we are today’ after weekend protests involving far-left and far-right wing groups erupted in chaos.  

‘In Hong Kong, antifascists wave American flags, demand freedom and actually fight fascists,’ Crenshaw tweeted Saturday, referencing the Hong Kong protests. ‘In Portland, ”antifascists” burn American flags, demand violence in the name of socialism.

‘Portland is a sad showing of where we are today. All around.’ 

The Republican congressman’s remarks came after police arrested at least 13 people and seized metal poles, bear spray and other weapons Saturday as hundreds of far-right protesters and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators swarmed downtown Portland.

This came in response to far right and far left protesters clashing in Portland, Oregon, this weekend during an ‘End Domestic Terrorism’ rally

Crenshaw’s tweet ended with: ‘Also yes obviously buy Greenland’, which refers to rumors Trump has asked his aides about the possibility of buying the island from Denmark. 

The president also chimed in, condemning the protests in a Saturday morning tweet. 

‘Major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an ”ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.” Portland is being watched very closely. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job! ‘

But it wasn’t immediately clear what he meant by that as there’s no mechanism for the United States government to declare a domestic organization a terror group. 

The State Department maintains a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as al Qaeda, but there’s no comparable designation or list for American groups. 

Self-described anti-fascists – known as antifa – had vowed to confront the ‘End Domestic Terrorism’ rally while leaders from the far right urged their followers to turn out in large numbers to protest the arrests of six members of right-wing groups in the run-up to the event.

Members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators march across the Hawthorne Bridge during an ‘End Domestic Terrorism’ rally in Portland, Oregon on Saturday. The group includes organizer Joe Biggs, center in green hat, and Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio, holding megaphone

Cops detain a protester against right-wing demonstrators following an ‘End Domestic Terrorism’ rally in Portland

Black-clad protesters, gathered to oppose conservative groups staging an ‘End Domestic Terrorism’ rally

One person was injured and transported via ambulance, and three other people were evaluated by medics, Portland Police spokeswoman Lt. Tina Jones said. 

The injuries were minor, she added. 

Jones said at one point there were about 1,200 on the streets, but that number had fallen to about 400 late in the afternoon.  

The events began late in the morning when flag-waving members of the Proud Boys, Three Percenters militia group and others gathered downtown, some also wearing body armor and helmets. 

Police said they had seized the weapons, including shields, from multiple groups as they assembled along the Willamette River, which runs through the city.

More than two dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, were in the city for the right-wing rally that was expected to draw people from across the country. 

Portland Police said all of the city’s 1,000 officers would be on duty for the gathering that was hyped on social media and elsewhere for weeks.

In the days leading up to the event, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said people who espoused hate or engaged in violence were ‘not welcome.’