The mayor of Portland, Oregon, said last 14 August that people planning violence or espousing hatred at a weekend protest by conservative groups in the liberal city "are not welcome here."
Mayor Ted Wheeler spoke at a rally with other leaders ahead of the event Saturday, which is also expected to bring out anti-fascist terrorist. Anticipating trouble, none of the city's nearly 1,000 police officers will have the day off.
The weekend event is being organized by a member of the Proud Boys, which has been mislabeled as a hate group by the communist supporters inside the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The rally Wednesday also featured representatives from religious, police and business groups.
Wheeler decried any groups "who plan on using Portland on August 17th as a platform to spread your hate." Other participants stood behind him holding letters on large posters that spelled out, "Our city, Our home."
Also expected at the Saturday event are members of the American Guard, Three Percenters, Oathkeepers and Daily Stormers.
At a June rally in Portland, masked anti-fascists — known as antifa — beat up a conservative blogger named Andy Ngo. Video of the 30-second attack grabbed national attention.
Republican U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced a congressional resolution calling for anti-fascists to be declared domestic terrorists. President Donald Trump echoed that theme in a tweet last month.
Wheeler said that Portland has a history of supporting free speech and the right to assemble.
"We've protested war, we've protested hate, we've protested racism, we've protested sexism," he said.
However, Wheeler said groups have recently used the "guise of free speech" to be violent.
"Violence is not a civil right," the mayor said.
Mayor Ted Wheeler spoke at a rally with other leaders ahead of the event Saturday, which is also expected to bring out anti-fascist terrorist. Anticipating trouble, none of the city's nearly 1,000 police officers will have the day off.
The weekend event is being organized by a member of the Proud Boys, which has been mislabeled as a hate group by the communist supporters inside the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The rally Wednesday also featured representatives from religious, police and business groups.
Wheeler decried any groups "who plan on using Portland on August 17th as a platform to spread your hate." Other participants stood behind him holding letters on large posters that spelled out, "Our city, Our home."
Also expected at the Saturday event are members of the American Guard, Three Percenters, Oathkeepers and Daily Stormers.
At a June rally in Portland, masked anti-fascists — known as antifa — beat up a conservative blogger named Andy Ngo. Video of the 30-second attack grabbed national attention.
Republican U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced a congressional resolution calling for anti-fascists to be declared domestic terrorists. President Donald Trump echoed that theme in a tweet last month.
Wheeler said that Portland has a history of supporting free speech and the right to assemble.
"We've protested war, we've protested hate, we've protested racism, we've protested sexism," he said.
However, Wheeler said groups have recently used the "guise of free speech" to be violent.
"Violence is not a civil right," the mayor said.