Situation Report: Destructive Antifa-led Protests in Major Progressive Cities, Portland Calls in National Guard

“Death to Fascism and the Liberalism that Enables it” read one banner in Denver, a sentiment echoed by Antifa-led protests in the streets of multiple progressive cities overnight that led to property damage and arrests.

Anarchist organizers under the slogan #EverybodyOut, and “F**k Trump, F** Biden” clashed with police and destroyed property in Portland, New York, Chicago, and Denver.

In Portland, the Pacific North West Youth Liberation Front (PNWYLF) called for targeting the “property-owning oppressive bastards” and “Death to America” in social media posts. A subsequent riot resulted in multiple damaged store fronts and in one case a local Catholic church. Police made multiple arrests, including one individual for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail. Law enforcement seized loaded firearms, commercial grade fireworks, and other weapons. Oregon Governor Kate Brown activated the state National Guard, the first time she has done so despite near nightly riots and violent protests in the city over the past several months.

In Denver, store fronts were smashed while multiple arrests were made and weapons seized as protesters moved through the city’s Capitol Hill district.

Multiple arrests were also made by police in New York and Chicago, -where protesters displayed a home-made guillotine.

Washington D.C., where on election night a significant black bloc march took place, and several people were violently assaulted, was noticeably quiet however. During the day, a small protest organized by Shut Down DC was held outside the offices of Fox News and the Republican Capitol Hill club, with minimal disruption.

The evening clashes strongly contrasted with organized day time “count every vote” rallies organized by progressive groups and supported by labor union and left-wing non-profits in several of the same cities.

Despite minor disruptions, events so far have yet to reach the scale of earlier Black Lives Matter-related protests and riots, despite months of preparation by revolutionary leftist groups. It is reasonable to assess that these groups are awaiting further developments in the election process before continuing to escalate.