{"id":2324831,"date":"2024-08-15T04:43:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T08:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-finds-portland-antifa-leader-guilty-amid-antifa-bullying-tactics\/"},"modified":"2024-08-15T04:49:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T08:49:13","slug":"jury-finds-portland-antifa-leader-guilty-amid-antifa-bullying-tactics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-finds-portland-antifa-leader-guilty-amid-antifa-bullying-tactics\/","title":{"rendered":"Jury Finds Portland Antifa Leader Guilty Amid Antifa Bullying Tactics"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjury-finds-portland-antifa-leader-guilty-amid-antifa-bullying-tactics%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2324831&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article outlines the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/adl-chief-rips-congresswoman-over-israel-slander\/\" title=\"ADL Chief slams Congresswoman for Israel &#039;slander&#039;.\">ongoing tensions surrounding<\/a> \u200bthe trial of Alissa Azar, \u2062a leader associated with Antifa, and \u200cthe experiences of journalists covering the proceedings. Ben West, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bennett-zelensky-speak-after-ukraine-leader-suggests-jerusalem-host-peace-talks\/\" title=\"Bennett, Zelensky Speak After Ukraine Leader Suggests Jerusalem Host Peace Talks\">local public figure<\/a>,\u200d has reported \u2062encounters with Antifa members who have allegedly\u200c engaged\u2063 in harassment and intimidation tactics inside \u2063and outside the courthouse. <\/p>\n<p>Bouferrache, a\u200c journalist, recounts \u200bfeeling threatened by an individual\u200c who has been stalking\u2063 her, expressing fear due to the person&#8217;s physical\u2063 size and aggressive behavior. This individual has \u200cdisrupted press conferences, illustrating\u2063 the hostile environment that\u2064 journalists face while reporting on\u2064 events linked to Antifa.<\/p>\n<p>Further\u200c claims suggest that violence escalated during Azar\u2019s trial, with reports of an Antifa \u2063member physically \u2064assaulting journalist Katie Daviscourt. There is also mention of Antifa members being \u200dpresent \u2063in the courtroom, making \u200dthe\u200c atmosphere \u2063uncomfortable for both reporters and potential \u2062jurors.<\/p>\n<p>The article reflects on broader \u2063issues\u200c of intimidation by Antifa, citing previous\u200b violent incidents involving public officials and counter-protests that have led to chaos in the community. It underscores West&#8217;s concerns for \u200bpersonal\u2064 safety and the\u2063 overall implications of such actions on civic engagement and the rule of law. <\/p>\n<p>the\u200d piece emphasizes a community deeply affected\u2062 by political extremism, where expressions\u200d of dissent \u200dhave led to confrontations and fears surrounding safety in public discourse.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>When an Oregon county near Portland held self-proclaimed &ldquo;journalist&rdquo; Alissa Azar accountable for planning a riot in 2021, violent members of Antifa descended on a small main street. Police arrested one member for allegedly assaulting a man.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She just wasn&rsquo;t even just your average Antifa member. She was somebody who definitely was an orchestrator, or I would call a ringleader,&rdquo; Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West said to The Federalist. &ldquo;They operate with creating fear, and at a certain point, you just have to stand up and be like, &lsquo;No.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A Clackamas County jury found Azar <a href=\"https:\/\/thepostmillennial.com\/breaking-oregon-jury-convicts-violent-portland-antifa-ringleader-alissa-azar-of-felony-over-2021-attack?utm_campaign=64470\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guilty<\/a> of a felony riot <a href=\"https:\/\/webportal.courts.oregon.gov\/portal\/Home\/WorkspaceMode?p=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">charge<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-people-have-pleaded-not-guilty-to-alabama-riverfront-brawl-charges\/\" title=\"5 individuals have denied their guilt in relation to charges stemming from a brawl at the Alabama riverfront.\">misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge<\/a>, but was hung on her misdemeanor charge for use of &ldquo;ESG [electrical stun gun]\/Tear Gas\/Mace,&rdquo; according to The Post Millennial. Prosecutors alleged Azar helped organize a 2021 Antifa <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1406020978191253505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1406020978191253505%7Ctwgr%5E80c46fd7b00da7e458c87fe9e7ffcc4ff2dff445%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2021%2F06%2F19%2Fantifa-proud-boys-riot-outside-portland%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">riot<\/a> in Oregon City, a small, usually <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestplaces.net\/crime\/city\/oregon\/oregon_city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">safe<\/a> community.<\/p>\n<p>Azar, who <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AlissaAzar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">calls<\/a> herself a &ldquo;journalist,&rdquo; retained lawyer Lauren Regan, <a href=\"https:\/\/cldc.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">director<\/a> of the radical Civil Liberties Defense Center, which has defended <a href=\"https:\/\/cldc.org\/tag\/antifa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antifa<\/a> in court.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>John Hacker, a well-known Antifa member who allegedly helped <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1662970489239748608\">attack<\/a> journalist Andy Ngo in 2021, assaulted a man outside the courthouse after the verdict, according to West. West said a constituent stopped to shake his hand, and Hacker became violent.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Hacker comes out of nowhere, yelling and screaming,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;These two gentlemen started yelling at each other and engaging, and it escalated and escalated, and I turned around from right across the street and watched John Hacker just throw an absolute haymaker on this dude and knock him to the ground.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Breaking &ndash; Violent Portland Antifa member John Hacker ARRESTED after assaulting a man outside of Oregon courthouse following comrades guilty verdict. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BPu4BJHrBE\">pic.twitter.com\/BPu4BJHrBE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TPostMillennial\/status\/1823857997535437116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div>\n<p>West said he is unsure if the two had any history. Chelly Bouferrache, on assignment for The Post Millennial, told The Federalist the two knew each other.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I crossed the street and John Hacker&rsquo;s there, and I was like, &lsquo;I think I just saw you assault him,&rsquo;&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;John tries to evade, police end up arresting him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The victim was lying on the ground with a &ldquo;hole in his face,&rdquo; according to West. Bouferrache confirmed this. West said he is also a nurse, so he helped the man until an ambulance arrived.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He was bleeding pretty profusely. He was dazed. I got him off the ground, sat him up, tried to provide some direct pressure,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;Then Antifa came out and were yelling threatening things to me, and making threats to me and my person while I was giving my report to law enforcement.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Local police deescalated the situation, he said. According to online <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.clackamas.us\/roster\/#inmates\">records<\/a>, Hacker is currently in the Clackamas County Jail, charged with assault and not allowed out on bail.<strong><br \/><\/strong><br \/>Hacker harassed Bouferrache outside the courthouse earlier in the day. According to The Post Millennial, police had <a href=\"https:\/\/thepostmillennial.com\/breaking-militants-attack-post-millennial-journalists-reporting-on-trial-of-portland-antifa-leader-alissa-azar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warned<\/a> him to leave her alone.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He always says, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re lying about me,&rsquo; or &lsquo;I&rsquo;m not stalking you,&rsquo;&rdquo; Bouferrache said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;You can say whatever you want online, but I don&rsquo;t want you in my personal space. You scare me.&rsquo; I told him that so many times, because he&rsquo;s huge.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hacker had just been <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieDaviscourt\/status\/1823850425457762775\">interrupting<\/a> West during a press conference, and he did the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieDaviscourt\/status\/1823519500568027305\">same<\/a> yesterday, according to videos Katie Daviscourt with The Post Millennial posted on X.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>An Antifa member allegedly assaulted Daviscourt earlier in the courthouse.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The &lsquo;pink hair&rsquo; came out, and she just swung those doors as hard as she could &mdash; Katie had her back turned &mdash; and just smacked right into the back of Katie,&rdquo; Bouferrache said. &ldquo;She did it again a second time. Only this time Katie was sitting at the edge of the bench and the trash can, and it probably hit the edge of her knee and the trash can. But she did it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The suspect was <a href=\"https:\/\/thepostmillennial.com\/breaking-militants-attack-post-millennial-journalists-reporting-on-trial-of-portland-antifa-leader-alissa-azar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speaking<\/a> with Azar earlier outside the courthouse, according to The Post Millennial. Witnesses told deputies about the incident, which is under investigation.<\/p>\n<p>During Azar&rsquo;s trial in downtown Oregon City, West said 20 to 25 Antifa members have consistently been in the courtroom, harassing himself and journalists covering the event.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The courthouse is full of people that are obviously Antifa members. They have a specific look about them, and they will take any opportunity to be very confrontational,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;They come out of the courthouse flipping everybody off; they&rsquo;re just acting chaotic and unhinged.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>These are the Antifa members and friends of Alissa Azar who have been harassing <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TPostMillennial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TPostMillennial<\/a> for our reporting of the felony trial of their comrade in Clackamas County, Ore. <\/p>\n<p>Some of them have been standing in masks outside the courthouse, staring at jurors as they leave and&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GqCEgIJt32\">https:\/\/t.co\/GqCEgIJt32<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4vxd5eoBV0\">pic.twitter.com\/4vxd5eoBV0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; Andy Ng&ocirc; &#127987;&#65039;&zwj;&#127752; (@MrAndyNgo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1823480287432486929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>West said Antifa members posted themselves across the street from the courthouse.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&ldquo;We were walking to lunch just across the street from the courthouse. On the other side of the street was a little band of the Antifa group, and they were catcalling and acting out,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;They definitely stand out a little bit, because they don&rsquo;t dress like a lot of normal people that you would see in Clackamas County. They have multi-colored hair; they tend to be very angry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>West said a &ldquo;very, very credible source&rdquo; told him a member of the jury felt &ldquo;incredibly threatened&rdquo; by Antifa, and is &ldquo;still very afraid for their safety for providing that public service.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Antifa has a history of intimidating public officials. Anarchists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/let-serve-warning-anarchists-claim-responsibility-burning-car-outside-city-leaders-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">firebombed<\/a> a car that belonged to a family member of Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, a Democrat who <a href=\"https:\/\/reneforportland.com\/about\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pushed<\/a> to ban open-air drug use, in January. An Antifa member also <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/01\/08\/portland-mayor-reportedly-punched-by-social-justice-activist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">punched<\/a> Democrat Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in the face in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>A Portland Antifa account <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieDaviscourt\/status\/1822429919550517485\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">posted<\/a> on X, asking for &ldquo;specific times you have documentation of elected official Ben West being at the courthouse.&rdquo; The account <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RisingPDX\/status\/1823734900534731251\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called<\/a> on Antifa members for &ldquo;support&rdquo; at the courthouse Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>West said he is concerned for his safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not immune to their potential assaults or personal attacks,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;At the same time, I firmly believe that if I have the ability to set the standard and the culture as a leader within my community, I have a role to do that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ngo has been covering the trial as well. He posted on X that Azar testified at her own trial, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1823191164297855178\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allowing<\/a> the prosecution to examine her history with Antifa &mdash; which includes far more than the case at issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Police <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1786463347489259793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrested<\/a> Azar for participating in the anti-Israel protest and library siege at Portland State University in May, but she was released on bail, Ngo reported. According to online court <a href=\"https:\/\/webportal.courts.oregon.gov\/portal\/Home\/WorkspaceMode?p=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">records<\/a>, Azar currently faces a misdemeanor charge for criminal trespass. The case is still open.<\/p>\n<h4>The Riot<\/h4>\n<p>Republican Dan Tooze was <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Daniel_Tooze_Sr.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">running<\/a> for state representative in 2021 and rented a pavilion in an Oregon City park for voter registration, according to West. Members of the right-wing group Proud Boys attended, and Antifa showed up to shut it down.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Antifa hates him, and decided to come in from Portland to create that chaos and mayhem and come into Oregon City,&rdquo; West said.<\/p>\n<p>Azar <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TPostMillennial\/status\/1822328621488644206\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called<\/a> on Antifa members to show up to the event on X, according to The Post Millennial.&nbsp;&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t forget about the counter demonstration this afternoon, if you&rsquo;re able to show up please do,&rdquo; Azar wrote on X. &ldquo;Rise against hate, stand up to fascism.&rdquo; When Antifa showed up to the event in Clackamette Park near the Willamette River on June 18, the groups <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieDaviscourt\/status\/1821938087649538411\/video\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">erupted<\/a> in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1406020978191253505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brawl<\/a>, charging each other with pepper spray.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>CASE BACKGROUND:<\/p>\n<p>Alissa Azar was captured on video rushing in to pepper spray a woman attending a Republican candidate&#8217;s voter registration event in Oregon City&rsquo;s Clackamette Park on June 18, 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Antifa traveled from Portland and organized to violently disrupt the permitted&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NgNKa8BQnx\">pic.twitter.com\/NgNKa8BQnx<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; Katie Daviscourt &#128248; (@KatieDaviscourt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KatieDaviscourt\/status\/1821938076303990946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Video appears to show Azar <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TPostMillennial\/status\/1822328608104587519\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pepper-spraying<\/a> someone during the conflict, according to The Post Millennial. A video posted at the time <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/search?q=andy%20ngo%20riot%20oregon%20city&amp;src=typed_query\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">depicts<\/a> a loud &ldquo;bang&rdquo; noise in the fray.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I heard testimony of women and children being evacuated by boat from the river,&rdquo; West said.<\/p>\n<p>Police quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1406047873637232642\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">responded<\/a> en masse to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koin.com\/news\/protests\/oregon-city-protests-declared-riot-06182021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">riot<\/a> and shut it down. Officers found &ldquo;explosive devices, a homemade <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TPostMillennial\/status\/1822328631986995383\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bomb<\/a>, chemical wipes, and riot shields&rdquo; at the site, according to The Post Millennial, and a witness in the trial tied them to Antifa.<\/p>\n<p>West said he condemns all violent extremism, whether the perpetrators are Proud Boys or Antifa.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In Clackamas County, we respect the rule of law. We are a safe county,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to have violent political extremism turn into riots and chaos and create danger in my community.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h4>Antifa Intimidation<\/h4>\n<p>As violent protestors clashed with police and vandalized businesses for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/07\/11\/1014967393\/where-portland-oregon-stands-a-year-after-being-a-protest-hotspot#:~:text=GARCIA%2DNAVARRO%3A%20Like%20in%20cities,resulting%20in%20violence%20and%20vandalism.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more than 200 days<\/a> in Portland, starting in summer 2020, tensions rose in nearby Clackamas County.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>Businesses in downtown Portland boarded up windows after consecutive nights of rioting in May 2020. <br \/>Logan Washburn | The Federalist<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When the protests stretched into summer 2021, right-wing and left-wing groups demonstrated for weeks in Oregon City, caught between rural Oregon and the Portland Metro area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Conservatives held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koin.com\/news\/protests\/proud-boys-antifa-groups-gather-at-oregon-city-flag-wave\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flag waves<\/a> along a local highway for weeks, which Antifa tried to stop with intimidation tactics. State and local police mostly kept the groups apart, preventing any large clashes.<\/p>\n<p>At one point, according to West, Antifa vandalized the location of the flag wave with a &ldquo;congealed urine, bloody, oily, liquidy substance coating the public area, along with fleshy chunks of pig parts.&rdquo; Radicals placed a sign with a poem at the site.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Antifa came in to try to do a biohazard type of vandalism,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;Not to be overly dramatic, but it looked like a kind of satanic messaging with a black background, and almost like blood-red lettering that had a creepy poem with it. Antifa was there, glorifying it and propagandizing it on their social media channels.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Azar posted on X at the time, saying &ldquo;local antifascists&rdquo; stopped the flag-waving event by &ldquo;pouring blood, oil, feces and cat litter everywhere.&rdquo; While Azar&rsquo;s account is now private, West provided The Federalist with screenshots of the posts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There was liver all over the place, and antifascist graffiti all around the meetup spot,&rdquo; Azar posted at the time. &ldquo;A communique was included: &lsquo;Fascists are not welcome under any flag they fly. We must take every opportunity to disrupt organizing, recruiting, and propaganda. Some presents were left behind for your sh-tty rally.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>West said the court discussed Azar&rsquo;s post promoting the biohazard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was the prosecution showing a pattern of really kind of aggressive and bad behavior, illegal behavior,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think most people understand how awful and gross and dangerous the behavior was, happening in our community. It was associated with Portland, but they brought it over into Clackamas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h4>A Different Vision<\/h4>\n<p>While Clackamas County is just a half-hour drive from downtown Portland, it is far different. The county stretches from the Portland suburbs in the northwest to the Cascade Mountains in the east to the farmland of the Willamette Valley in the west.<\/p>\n<p>Clackamas County <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/2022-election\/results\/oregon\/statewide-offices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">voted<\/a> for Republican Christine Drazan instead of now-Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, in 2022. While neighboring Multnomah County &mdash; which contains Portland &mdash; had a 29 percent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.streetroots.org\/news\/2024\/02\/14\/new-report-expands-county-homelessness-data#:~:text=There%20were%201%2C821%20people%20sleeping,29%25%20between%202022%20and%202023.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increase<\/a> in homelessness from 2022 to 2023, Clackamas County had a 65 percent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tootiesmith.com\/news\/clackamas-reduced-homelessness-by-65-heres-how#:~:text=In%20the%20same%20period%20Clackamas,exceptional%20when%20compared%20to%20Multnomah.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decrease<\/a> in homelessness.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tale of two counties, and the contrast is clear,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;We have a culture that respects the rule of law. We respect police. Law enforcement is well funded here and taken care of; we don&rsquo;t defund our police.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Elected officials&rsquo; job is to solve problems and provide basic services like public safety, according to West. &ldquo;When you call 911, we want somebody to show up,&rdquo; West said. &ldquo;When they come to Clackamas County to do this crazy behavior, we won&rsquo;t allow it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Logan Washburn is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-clark-county-keeps-commercial-addresses-on-voter-rolls\/\" title=\"Lawsuit: Clark County Keeps Commercial Addresses On Voter Rolls\">staff writer covering election integrity<\/a>. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo&#8217;s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a county in Oregon close to Portland took action against self-identified &#8220;journalist&#8221; Alissa Azar for her role in organizing a riot in 2021, Antifa members violently converged on a small main street. Police apprehended one individual for reportedly assaulting another man. Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West described Azar to The Federalist as more than just an ordinary Antifa member, labeling her as an orchestrator or ringleader. He emphasized the need to confront such behavior, stating, &#8220;At a certain point, you just have to stand up and be like, &#8216;No.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A jury in Clackamas County convicted Azar of felony rioting and misdemeanor disorderly conduct but could not reach a decision on her misdemeanor charge related to the use of \u201cESG [electrical stun gun]\/Tear Gas\/Mace,\u201d according to The Post Millennial. Prosecutors accused her of helping organize the Antifa riot that occurred in Oregon City\u2014a typically safe community.<\/p>\n<p>Azar engaged lawyer Lauren Regan from the Civil Liberties Defense Center, known for defending Antifa members legally. Following the verdict, John Hacker\u2014an infamous Antifa member linked to an attack on journalist Andy Ngo\u2014assaulted someone outside the courthouse. West recounted witnessing Hacker&#8217;s violent outburst after he had been approached by another individual.<\/p>\n<p>West noted that he was uncertain if there was any prior conflict between Hacker and his victim but mentioned that Bouferrache reported they were acquainted. After witnessing Hacker&#8217;s aggression firsthand and alerting law enforcement about it, West provided assistance until paramedics arrived since he is also a nurse.<\/p>\n<p>Hacker had previously harassed Bouferrache outside the courthouse earlier that day despite police warnings against approaching her. She expressed feeling threatened by him due to his size and aggressive demeanor.<\/p>\n<p>During Azar\u2019s trial held downtown Oregon City, West observed 20-25 Antifa supporters consistently present in courtrooms where they harassed both him and journalists covering proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>West described their behavior as confrontational: \u201cThey come out of the courthouse flipping everybody off; they\u2019re just acting chaotic and unhinged.\u201d He also mentioned reports from jurors feeling intimidated by these individuals during their service.<\/p>\n<p>Antifa has previously targeted public officials with intimidation tactics; incidents include firebombing vehicles belonging to relatives of city officials who opposed open drug use policies or physically assaulting politicians like Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.<\/p>\n<p>In light of ongoing threats from radical groups like Antifa towards elected officials such as himself\u2014who has received calls for support at courthouses\u2014West expressed concern over personal safety while affirming his commitment toward maintaining order within Clackamas County: \u201cI\u2019m not immune&#8230; I firmly believe&#8230; I have a role.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ngo has been actively reporting on this case too; he noted that during her trial testimony Azar discussed past involvement with Antifa beyond this specific incident\u2014including being arrested at protests earlier this year which are still pending legal resolution regarding criminal trespass charges against her personally.<\/p>\n<p>The Riot<\/p>\n<p>In June 2021 Dan Tooze\u2014a Republican candidate running for state representative\u2014held voter registration events at parks where Proud Boys attended alongside counter-protests organized by local leftists including those affiliated with Azar calling upon fellow activists via social media platforms urging them into action against perceived fascism present among attendees leading ultimately towards violence erupting between opposing factions resulting eventually requiring police intervention amidst chaos ensuing throughout surrounding areas nearby downtown locations across multiple days thereafter leading up until summer months ahead following initial clashes witnessed back then involving various groups clashing violently over differing ideologies surrounding political beliefs held strongly amongst participants involved therein creating significant unrest overall impacting communities locally affected directly through actions taken place during these times historically recorded now documented thoroughly throughout various news outlets covering developments occurring regularly since then highlighting ongoing tensions existing still today continuing forward into future discussions around issues raised concerning safety measures needed moving forward addressing concerns raised repeatedly voiced publicly regarding potential risks posed should similar situations arise again without proper precautions taken beforehand ensuring everyone remains safe regardless background affiliations held individually amongst those participating actively engaging within public discourse happening around them daily affecting lives lived here presently shared openly together collectively working towards solutions beneficial overall improving conditions experienced locally everywhere else too!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":2324832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-14-at-7.30.20%E2%80%AFPM-1024x681.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[14436,3802,38202,38201,3619],"class_list":["post-2324831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-activism","tag-antifa","tag-bullying-tactics","tag-court-verdict","tag-portland"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-14-at-7.30.20%E2%80%AFPM-1024x681.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}