Tornado Alley (PROG)

[newmedman]

To link the end of that good story. Thanks
=================================
https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-47332054

............I show them video clips of their own threatening behaviour - first Rob, who threatened to burn down a communist bookstore.

"I'm so justified in telling those fools I was going to burn down their bookstore," he contends. "It's not illegal, is it?"

I gently suggest that it might be illegal to burn down a bookstore. Rob is unrepentant.
I turn to Luis and show him a clip. He's getting in the face of a right-wing protester. His response to the video is surprising.

"That march turned into a personal feud between me and a right-wing journalist and that in no way is right," he admits. "It was in no way correct."

Rob is momentarily impressed.

"Takes a big man say something like that," he says.
'How does it end?'

It seems like a glimmer of a breakthrough. but throughout the hour-plus conversation there are few areas of agreement. (You can see for yourself; we've put the conversation on YouTube - it contains strong language, violence and drug use.)

As the conversation progresses, Rob starts to smoke high-strength cannabis oil and Luis tokes on a joint. But the mood rarely changes.

I put it to them that they're both distrustful of the police and America's prison system. Both describe themselves as anarchists. But Luis immediately rejects the comparison. He points out that despite their professed libertarianism and anger at the police in Portland, many Proud Boys are supportive of law enforcement in general. Some use the pro-police "blue lives matter" slogan.

"You can't say that you are anti-prison yet stand with people who declare that 'blue lives matter,'" Luis says.

"I think we can still fix the police," Rob counters. "I say if you can't fix the police, then fire the police and get some new dogs in."

Most people in Portland would tell both of them to go to hell, I remind them. Do they care?
"Absolutely," says Luis. "But the violence only comes from one side." Rob disagrees, but also says he "doesn't care" what the people of Portland think.

One last question: how does this all end?
Luis talks about the big picture and his general political beliefs: anti-racism, a national education policy, universal health care, justice for Native Americans. When it comes to Portland and the Proud Boys, he's terse and clear.

"Proud Boys have been told. Burn your (Fred) Perry. Make a video renouncing hate and the Proud Boys. Go away," he says. "That's how it ends."

Rob is incredulous.

"You want us to just walk off a cliff?"

How does he see the conflict in Portland ending?

One word: "Badly."

Fighting continues
There is no meeting of minds. I wonder if the discussion might actually have made Rob and Luis even more angry at each other. But at least it goes off without any objects or punches thrown.

We drive Rob to his temporary home - his car in a nearby grocery store parking lot. He promises to wait and sober up before driving south. Before we say goodbye he starts live-streaming on his Facebook page. A few dozen people watch. Only a handful comment.

Later that night the anti-fascists hoist the Trump-as-Humpty Dumpty banner over a highway in a nearby suburb, strategically placed to catch the eye of morning commuters.

"It sometimes lasts though the night," one activist tells me. "It depends on how bored or busy the police are."

I left Portland the next day, but it wasn't long before there was more news from the city. A union hall had been vandalised. Someone had scrawled "ANTIFA HOUSE" on the side.

Rob and Luis weren't involved. But again activists came out onto the streets.

And again there were fights, between anti-fascists and Proud Boys.

Twitter post by @PortlandIWW: We're really disappointed to report that we'll need to be buying paint and replacing a window, due to vandalism of our building. Again, all unions should be concerned about this attack on the working class. An injury to one is an injury to all! #solidarity