New president; same Antifa violence.
After weeks of angst-ridden media warnings of potential right-wing violence on Inauguration Day, Antifa — the left-wing group that Joe Biden once said was an idea and not an organization — staged violent protests in Portland and Seattle as the Democrat Biden took the oath of office in Washington, D.C.
In Portland, rioters dressed in the now-familiar Antifa uniform with all black clothing and face coverings fought with police and smashed windows at the city’s Democrat Party headquarters. Later, a crowd of up to 200 gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in the city, where they shouted at federal police and committed several acts of vandalism.
At least one officer was surrounded and intimidated by a mob of Antifa thugs as he attempted to confiscate weapons.
“We don’t want Biden,” read a banner the group marched behind. “We want revenge for police murders, imperialist wars and fascist massacres.”
The ICE building in Portland has seen a lot of left-wing violence in the past year, as it was frequently the scene of clashes between rioters and federal officials in the wake of the killing of Minneapolis criminal George Floyd last May.
At approximately 9:30 in the evening, the riot was declared an “unlawful assembly” and the crowd was dispersed by the use of flash bangs and tear gas. At least a dozen protesters were arrested in Portland.
The Democrat Party issued a statement condemning the vandalism at its headquarters in the city, but still declared, “None of this should take away from the fact that today is a joyous day for America.”
At some point during the rioting and demonstrations, a car flipped over with a mother and a young girl inside of it. The two were not seriously injured, and were assisted out of the vehicle by protesters, who adamantly shooed law enforcement away from the vehicle. The protesters did allow firefighters to assist the family.
In Seattle, a city also plagued by left-wing violence in the past year, agitators broke windows and otherwise vandalized several buildings in the city, including several banks, the Nakamura Federal Courthouse, AmazonGo stores, and the original Starbucks located at the Pike Place Market.
“Security’s been ramped up for Inauguration Day,” said Seattle Police Officer Valerie Carson. “We’re prepared for this and we’ve got units from our community response group who are tracking this group and following them and hoping to deter as much criminal activity as possible.”
“This is not a peaceful protest. We’ve had multiple sites that have been vandalized,” Carson added. “Once things start to get destructive and property starts being damaged, that’s usually when we will step in and try to make arrests.”
Protesters also blocked traffic and lit a large American flag on fire at one intersection.
At least two were arrested in Seattle during Inauguration Day unrest.
The left-wing lunacy spilled over into places beyond the Northwest as well. In Denver, protesters burned an American flag on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol building. In Sacramento, a group of black-clad protesters marched through the streets chanting, “No more cops, no more Proud Boys, No more presidents.” In Boston, a group of climate activists who organized the “No Honeymoon for Biden-Unite Against the Fascists” protest also registered their displeasure with the incoming administration.
Meanwhile in Washington, D.C. — which was guarded by 26,000 National Guard troops for the Inauguration Day event — the National Guard reported that there were “no confrontations” with any protesters.
Now we know that the incoming Biden administration can expect the same sort of far-Left anger that the Trump administration faced should these radicals not be appeased. And appeasing them will be difficult because we know that they want to abolish all police, among other ridiculous demands.
That said, the question must be asked: Now that Joe Biden is president, will violence in cities such as Portland and Seattle continue to be framed as “mostly peaceful” protests?
