PORTLAND, OR – When the state of Oregon and the city of Portland was once again taken over by groups of Antifa supporters, terrorizing the area, democratic Governor Kate Brown actually did something about it for a change.
She activated the National Guard. O
f course, she did so, in this instance, a day too late.
Last night, a marauding mob of #antifa smashed up buildings one-by-one in Portland to protest the election. They targeted a Catholic church that runs a shelter for the homeless. The church announced it is stopping services. 13 were arrested. My report: https://t.co/0PtxhhhdXV
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 6, 2020
The crime wave started shortly before 7pm Tuesday when roughly 100 Antifa members took to the streets to voice their displeasure on the election.
They were not upset that President Donald Trump may get another chance, but they were upset that he or current Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden might get elected.
In a tweet from the Youth Liberation Front, a known Antifa group said:
“[Expletive] Trump, [Expletive] Biden, death to America! We want something better than this trash, and we’re going to take it.”
On 4 Nov., #antifa in Portland organized a post-Election Day riot where they smashed dozens of businesses & a church in downtown. They assaulted responding officers. Those arrested had riot gear, illegal guns & other weapons. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/t3stx9O3r7 pic.twitter.com/P2POGHaDu7
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 5, 2020
The criminals took to the street carrying their symbols of Antifa and anarchy while breaking windows of businesses along West Burnside Street.
One of the buildings they attacked was the Saint Andrew Bessette Church, known for helping the city’s large homeless population.
One of the banners carried at last night’s Portland antifa protest-turned-riot.
Photo: Dave Killen/Oregonian pic.twitter.com/5ZGMLzNyB2
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 5, 2020
Media in the area was able to capture a few instances of the mob breaking windows of buildings during the tirade. In one of the video clips, a large banner that was being carried could be seen that read, according to the Post Millennial:
“We don’t want Biden – we want revenge!”
Large crowd of antifa black bloc smash up businesses in downtown Portland. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/bHC9vUhgVt
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 5, 2020
Due to their actions, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office declared a riot and made several announcements warning rioters that they had to leave or face crowd control measures.
After repeated warnings were ignored, law enforcement responded in and began dispersing the crowd. While the officers were doing their duty, several of them were hit with glass objects and at least one firework.
Officers were able to make 13 different arrests and seized multiple weapons and riot gear used by the criminals in their attacks.
Out of the 13 that were arrested, shockingly enough, the Multnomah County District Attorney has announced that they will move forward with criminal charges against 2 of them. It is shocking because they normally do not prosecute any of them.
One of the people arrested is a 23 year old out of Sunrise, Florida.
The criminal, Jarrod DeFerrari, allegedly had commercial grade fireworks, a gas mask, riot gear, and a hammer on his person when he was arrested.
He was charged with felony riot and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief.
More photos of transsexual militant antifa Jarrod DeFerrari, 23, who was arrested at the Portland #antifa riot & charged w/serious crimes. They/them refused to identify themself at jail and gave a fake age. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/586h5Pl9UT
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 6, 2020
Another arrested allegedly told police that he is a “traveling protester” and had only recently arrived in Portland.
The man, Luke Thomas Harrah, was charged with first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief. He was released by a judge shortly after his arrest.
William Kahl Beecher was also arrested for the riot. When he was taken into custody, he allegedly had a loaded semi-automatic rifle, a bullet resistant vest, and a knife.
He was also allegedly carrying loaded magazines and fireworks. He was charged with felony riot, possession of a loaded firearm, and second-degree disorderly conduct. He was allowed to bond out after his arrest.
After several more arrests were made, the criminals finally got tired and started to disperse on their own on November 5th before 2am.
Now, this riot was not unlike many of the well over 100 others that have occurred in Portland since the death of George Floyd while in police custody in May of this year.
However, for some reason, democratic Oregon Governor Kate Brown took exceptional notice and for once, did something she should have months ago, and ordered up the National Guard.
The National Guard, who had been put on standby before the general election, was called up for the first time in response to the riots that have been occurring in her state. Whether or not the National Guard will have success in quelling further riots remain to be seen.
October 28, 2020
DALLAS, TX – According to officials within the Texas National Guard, concerns of possible unrest (or worse) following the November election has compelled strategic discussions and deployments of troops under direction of the state governor for the sake of preparedness.
With as contentious as this election season has been, whether inspired by genuine politics or non-political matters becoming politicized, the news is both concerning and also somewhat quelling to a degree.
Here’s what we know thus far.
Allegedly, the Texas National Guard stated via a spokesman to a Texas news outlet that Governor Greg Abbott is trying to be proactive for what many believe could be a protest-laced period following the election.
But apparently there hasn’t been stellar communication on this purported effort, as various mayors and county officials within Texas aren’t sure as to what exactly is going on in this regard.
Leaders from various counties have said that they’ve not been informed of any possible troop deployments in anticipation of post-election riots or unrest.
This past summer, Governor Abbott had at times dispatched Texas National Guard troops to various areas – including Dallas – in response to the riots and protests inspired by the death of George Floyd earlier this year.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is among those who hasn’t been contacted regarding any possible troops deployments, further noting that there’s no reason to believe that there’s going to be anything but a “peaceful election” that transpires within Texas:
“We’re going to proceed as normal and declare a winner when all the votes are counted, and it’s really as simple as that. We have no indication and no intelligence that this will be anything but a peaceful election.”
Furthermore, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s spokesman, Tristan Hallman, also stated that the mayor’s office has not been informed with regard to any details about a deployment of the Texas National Guard.
The news on the possible deployment was said to have come from Brandon Jones from the state’s National Guard, who serves as the spokesperson.
From what Jones noted, the deployed troops are going to function in a manner similar to how they responded to the George Floyd protests and riots earlier in the year:
“Right now we could go to 1,000 troops in support of civil disturbance operations. We’re going to guard buildings just like we did during the George Floyd protests earlier this year.”
Reportedly, Governor Abbott has not publicly commented on this matter.
But when speaking on the deployment orders, Jones pointed out that the orders did come from the governor’s office:
“We never make any speculation associated with any possible mission. That’s not what we do. We respond to requests from the governor.”
Some local officials are acting as though this move by Governor Abbott is some elaborate scare tactic to potentially scare voters.
Austin City Council member Greg Casar is among those who believe that this is a means to suppress voters within the state via the governor not commenting on the reported deployment:
“The governor could choose to make clear why he is doing this, he could make clear that voting is safe and secure, but instead he is choosing to continue his pattern of voter suppression.”
However, lawyer and adjunct professor Eric Cedillo from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law thinks that the conspiracy of this being a possible voter-suppression tactic enacted by the governor is doubtful.
Instead, Cedillo thinks this is more along the lines of Governor Abbott “probably just trying to be careful more than anything else.”
Which said speculation is reasonable considering all that has occurred not just in Texas but within large cities across the country this year regarding violent episodes of unrest and rioting.
Currently, no elected officials have come outright within the state to confirm if the guard will be deployed.
Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we keep you updated on this matter.
Want to make sure you never miss a story from Law Enforcement Today? With so much “stuff” happening in the world on social media, it’s easy for things to get lost.
Make sure you click “following” and then click “see first” so you don’t miss a thing! (See image below.) Thanks for being a part of the LET family!
