Patriot Prayer

Patriot Prayer
FormationJune 2016; 8 years ago (2016-06)
FounderJoey Gibson
TypeFar-right group
Location
Region
Pacific Northwest
United States

Patriot Prayer is an American far-right group founded by Joey Gibson in 2016 and based in Vancouver, Washington, a suburban city in the Portland metropolitan area.[1][2] Since 2016,[3] the group has organized several dozen[4] pro-gun, pro-Trump rallies held in cities in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. Often met with large numbers of counter-protesters,[5][6] attendees have repeatedly clashed with left-wing groups in the Portland area.[4] Far-right groups, such as the Proud Boys,[7][8] have attended the rallies organized by Patriot Prayer, as well as white nationalists, sparking controversy and violence.[9][10][11]

Patriot Prayer has focused on fighting anti-fascist and leftist groups; street fights between the groups, which have taken place since 2017, have frequently been filmed and posted online by observers and members.[8] A brawl between Patriot Prayer and anti-fascist activists at Cider Riot in May 2019 led to criminal proceedings against members of the group. Three people pleaded guilty, while Gibson and another member were acquitted of their charges.[12][13]

Patriot Prayer has described itself as in favor of free speech[14] and opposed to big government.[15][16] An infiltrator into Patriot Prayer said that the group had around 15 core members in 2019.[17]

  1. ^ "Right-Wing Slugger "Tiny" Toese Arrested Again While Trolling Portland". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017. Patriot Prayer, a far-right protest group based out of Vancouver, Wash.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference may was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Brown, Karina (February 27, 2021). "Judge Rejects Far Right Leader's Claims of 'Political Persecution'". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Hay and Borter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Weise, Elizabeth (August 27, 2017). "'Patriot Prayer' organizers in San Francisco blame left for violence". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Nouvelage, Elijah (August 27, 2017). "'Victory': Thousands protest far right in San Francisco". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Wilson, Jason (August 5, 2018). "Portland far-right rally: police charge counterprotesters with batons drawn". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Coaston, Jane (September 8, 2020). "The pro-Trump, anti-left Patriot Prayer group, explained". Vox. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Bivins, Mike (June 5, 2017). "Alt-right rally draws protests in Portland, Oregon". Aljazeera. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Matarrese was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shepherd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zane Sparling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Judge acquits Patriot Prayer founder, one other, in riot trial". Statesman Journal. Associated Press. July 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  14. ^ Kelly, Heather (August 27, 2017). "San Francisco marchers celebrate canceled 'free speech' rally". CNN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "1,000+ expected at Portland protests Sunday; 'Patriot Prayer' leader changes location". KATU News. September 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  16. ^ Westervelt, Eric (August 25, 2017). "Bay Area Braces For Protests: 'Charlottesville Has Raised The Stakes'". NPR News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  17. ^ Zielinsky, Alex (August 26, 2019) "Undercover in Patriot Prayer: Insights From a Vancouver Democrat Who's Been Working Against the Far-Right Group from the Inside" Archived August 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Portland Mercury