Recent video of Antifa assaulting drivers provides key lessons for law enforcement, legislators

A viral video serves as a reminder of the role played by armed Antifa members at protests.

In the video, armed Antifa “volunteer security” pointed rifles at drivers and eventually physically detained a local Portland resident.

The incident occurred on May 5, during a regular “Justice for Patrick Kimmons” protest march in the northern suburbs of Portland. Kimmons was a known Portland gang member shot and killed by police after Kimmons allegedly shot several other individuals with whom he was apparently fighting.

While this protest was a regular weekly event in the area and therefore not a surprise, there were no police visible at any point in the video.

Several individuals can be seen wearing plate carriers used for body armor and open-carrying a variety of rifles and shotguns while escorting a protest march down the middle of a Portland street.

The video indicates an altercation began at the front of the protest column, as a red minivan attempted to cross the road blocked by the protest march. The march did not have legal permission to block traffic. Armed antifa security responded by raising and pointing firearms at the driver and issuing a variety of threats and commands. At one point the minivan is seen with a flattened tire and the back window of the minivan is smashed out.

A second video shows another altercation with the driver of a red pickup truck who attempted to traverse the road the march is on. Again, the armed security raise weapons at the driver and shout a variety of commands at him. The driver attempts to slowly make his way through march, but at one point stopped his vehicle and –for reasons that are unclear—exited the vehicle with a pistol in his hand. The armed antifa security then raised their rifles at him again, and he responded by raising his pistol. He is then shoved by one of the armed marchers and wrestled to the ground by a group before having his firearm taken from him.

According to a subsequent police report, an allegation was made that a vehicle struck a pedestrian, but police say no victim came forward to confirm this claim. It is common for protest organizers to falsely claim that drivers were seeking to strike pedestrians when in reality protestors are assaulting or vandalizing the vehicle forcing the driver to flee. The police report also notes:

Additional calls came in from people who had been driving vehicles in the area and who were blocked by the crowd in the street. One person said people in the crowd broke out their vehicle windows, damaged tires, and sprayed them with some kind of irritant near North Interstate Avenue and North Killingsworth Street.

A person in another vehicle blocked by the crowd near North Alberta Street and North Michigan Avenue got into a dispute with people who surrounded him and took a firearm from him, as well as tools and keys.

While the videos are somewhat difficult to follow because of editing and the cameraman’s apparent willingness to avoid filming illegal acts conducted by the march participants (a level of cooperation common among videographers who are permitted to film Antifa actions) there are some take-aways.

Early in the video there is a good example of the use of bicyclists as advanced scouts. They can be seen taking up a position blocking a cross road as the march passes, which is standard operating procedure for this kind of action. The use of scouts on bicycles, mopeds or skateboards is a common fixture of Antifa tactics. Typically, these scouts will be in contact with other members through the use of encrypted cellphone apps or radios.

The targeted harassment and violence against drivers at protestor-established checkpoints and road blocks remains one of the most dangerous elements of Antifa behavior. This has led to multiple shootings, both by armed protestors targeting drivers and by drivers firing on armed protestors.

Where possible, police should avoid protestors being permitted to utilize checkpoints and roadblocks, especially while armed. First, because of the risk of loss of life.  Second, because of the propaganda value Antifa groups derive from being able to perform what is essentially a police function of traffic control.

In circumstances where this is not possible, police may wish to establish an additional perimeter where drivers can be safely stopped before they reach the protest lines, although obviously it would be manpower intensive effort.

Because roadblocks and checkpoints controlled by armed protestors substantially increase the danger to the public, state legislators should consider legislation to strengthen penalties for protestors who block roadways during an illegal assembly. Anti-rioting legislation recently passed in Florida includes such a provision, along with legal protections for drivers who injure rioters while attempting to flee mobs.