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He brought an American flag to protest fascism in Portland. Then antifa attacked him.

Airing of Grievances

Airing of Grievances

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,190
Paul Welch came to the downtown protest Aug. 4 to let his political leanings be known. With pride he clutched his U.S. flag as he moved among the crowd of like-thinking demonstrators. Soon a group of black-clad anti-fascist protesters, also known as antifa, demanded he lose the flag, calling it a fascist symbol. Welch refused, and a tug-of-war ensued.

It ended with Welch taking a club to the back of the head, lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

Only Welch was not a Proud Boy, a Patriot Prayer supporter or among the other conservative activists who descended into the area that day, many from out of town. He was one of hundreds of progressive Portlanders who had turned out to oppose the right-wing rally held at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

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https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/08/he_brought_an_american_flag_to.html
 
GYODX

GYODX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,240
Fuck Antifa and all who defend them.

And don't start with the "anyone who is anti-fascist is by definition Antifa" bullshit.
 

Deleted member 17403

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People really need to chill with this violence shit. Even if he were protesting in opposition to them, that gives them no right to harm him.
 

Deleted member 16657

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Oct 27, 2017
10,198
That video is really awful. They smack him and immediately disperse when he falls down. Disgusting behavior and even worse that this will be like popcorn theatre for the worst parts of the internet.
 
Skaterboy

Skaterboy

Member
May 16, 2018
215
Good god this awful!
Antifa is officially a lost cause in the eyes of the public.
I reckon they'll end up being snuffed out like the Black Panthers as the media demonizes them.
 
Surface of Me

Surface of Me

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OP
OP
Airing of Grievances

Airing of Grievances

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,190
Clownboy said:
Good god this awful!
Antifa is officially a lost cause in the eyes of the public.
I reckon they'll end up being snuffed out like the Black Panthers as the media demonizes them.
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I'm glad we got to the heart of what the real issue is here, media demonizing.

GYODX said:
Aka "we shouldn't even try to keep those on 'our side' accountable 'cause the right-wing might score a win' out of it." Don't be stupid.
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Therein lies the issue. Antifa isn't on your side if you believe in America as a nation, any kind of border, any form of law enforcement or incarceration, capitalism, and a whole host of other things. Their side is about 0.5% of the US population.
 

Deleted member 13496

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
7,409
Travaughn said:
People really need to chill with this violence shit. Even if he were protesting in opposition to them, that gives them no right to harm him.
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Nah, sorry this sentiment is such horseshit and I'm so sick of seeing it. What happened to this guy is awful, no doubt, but if this had been some Swastika Confederate Flag rocking asshole I wouldn't feel an ounce of sympathy. They literally wear symbols of genocide and violence. They deserve everything coming to them.
 
Subpar Scrub

Subpar Scrub

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
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Oct 25, 2017
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They literally clubbed someone in the back of the head for not letting go of the National flag? Fucking criminals.
 
Merv

Merv

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,460
Protests always attract a small percentage that just want to engage in violence.

Switch Back 9 said:
Nah, sorry this sentiment is such horseshit and I'm so sick of seeing it. What happened to this guy is awful, no doubt, but if this had been some Swastika Confederate Flag rocking asshole I wouldn't feel an ounce of sympathy. They literally wear symbols of genocide and violence. They deserve everything coming to them.
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But it wasn't and promoting violence and ratcheting people up leads to shit like this.
 
GYODX

GYODX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,240
Controversial opinion incoming: all the motherfuckers involved need to be held legally accountable.
 
I Don't Like

I Don't Like

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Dec 11, 2017
14,908
If they knew he wasn't an alt-right goon and still attacked him for carrying the flag they deserve to get their asses kicked in return or be charged with assault.

This is completely fucking unacceptable and over-the-top. Feel terrible for that guy.
 

Deleted member 13496

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7,409
Merv said:
Protests always attract a small percentage that just want to engage in violence.



But it wasn't and promoting violence and ratcheting people up leads to shit like this.
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I realize that, and even said so in my post. I feel bad for this guy and what happened to him was gross and wrong.

My point was addressing the other poster who said even if he was counter-protesting violence isn't the answer...and counter-protestors at events like this are often the ones wearing said symbols, and if not, are generally cool with people who do. So fuck em all.
 
Starlite

Starlite

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
565
Shit like this is why antifa will continue to be demonized. What an awful thing to do to someone on your side.

5taquitos said:
Counter protestors should be rocking the American flag at all protests. Take that shit back.
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Yeah, we shouldn't let the alt-right and those of similar ilk to take the flag as a symbol they alone use. This isn't like the Confederate flag or any of the many flags that fascists use. It's still a symbol of a living, changing country, and letting them use the U.S. flag allows them to turn it into another yet another symbol of hatred and white supremacy.
 

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Switch Back 9 said:
Nah, sorry this sentiment is such horseshit and I'm so sick of seeing it. What happened to this guy is awful, no doubt, but if this had been some Swastika Confederate Flag rocking asshole I wouldn't feel an ounce of sympathy. They literally wear symbols of genocide and violence. They deserve everything coming to them.
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I don't agree. That's fine that you believe what you want but so as long as the person wearing swastikas isn't touching anyone, no I don't think anyone has a right to put their hands on them. It's not horseshit. When your first response is violence, dumb shit like this happpens. If someone were wearing KKK robes and shit, even though I'm black, I wouldn't start beating the shit out of them but I guess I'm different. Idk.
 

Deleted member 13496

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
7,409
GYODX said:
I think people like you are fucking disgusting.
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Why?

That poster is totally true. It sucks for that one guy quite a bit, for sure, but the alt-right media etc. using this to paint ALL anti-Trump anti-alt-right protestors as violent thugs does way more harm to the overall mission, which is a very bad thing.

Travaughn said:
I don't agree. That's fine that you believe what you want but so as long as the person wearing swastikas isn't touching anyone, no I don't think anyone has a right to put their hands on them. It's not horseshit. When your first response is violence, dumb shit like this happpens. If someone were wearing KKK robes and shit, even though I'm black, I wouldn't start beating the shit out of them but I guess I'm different. Idk.
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You're totally entitled to that opinion, which I find hard to sympathize with but I do respect. Especially as a minority. But I very much believe people like this will never, ever change no matter how much dialogue in which you try to engage them. Some people simply need to be knocked the fuck out. IMO of course.
 
prophetvx

prophetvx

Member
Nov 28, 2017
5,331
PlayALLTheGames said:
If they knew he wasn't an alt-right goon and still attacked him for carrying the flag they deserve to get their asses kicked in return or be charged with assault.

This is completely fucking unacceptable and over-the-top. Feel terrible for that guy.
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Even if he was an alt-right goon, they still need to be charged.

The idea that violence is ok because you may be on the correct side of the political spectrum is not how a rational society works. Antifa, the ones that cover their faces looking for a fight... Aren't anything to look up to, they too are part of the toxic extremism in politics as well.
 
King Alamat

King Alamat

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Nov 22, 2017
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Starlite said:
Yeah, we shouldn't let the alt-right and those of similar ilk to take the flag as a symbol they alone use. This isn't like the Confederate flag or any of the many flags that fascists use. It's still a symbol of a living, changing country, and letting them use the U.S. flag allows them to turn it into another yet another symbol of hatred and white supremacy.
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It already is, though. We just don't want to admit it.
 
SaintBowWow

SaintBowWow

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Oct 25, 2017
4,085
It really sucks that the right has co-opted pretty much all major patriotic symbols. It's largely because they drape themselves with the flag in order to fend off any criticism of their policies (such as NFL protest debate being focused on the anthem and the military instead of police brutality) but it's resulted in a scenario where someone proudly waving the American flag is assumed to be a conservative. It allows them to get away with claiming they're patriots for protesting when Democrats are in office and then claim that protestors are un-American when Republicans are in control.

It likely also has to do with the general viewpoint of each party. Conservatives don't want things to change, and there fore they are protesting to 'preserve America' or 'make America great again.' Liberals, naturally, want to change things. Therefore, they are often energized by problems they have with the status quo, and by things that they want to alter about America. As a result, they often aren't waving the flag for a country they have fundamental problems with.

However, in my opinion it's incredibly patriotic and American to be protesting the current GOP. Protesting against Trump is protesting against Nazis and facists and is a fight for free speech, freedom of the press and the melting pot. Liberals are patriotic as hell and unfortunately it's hard for a lot of people to understand that without the proper iconography.
 
tsampikos

tsampikos

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User banned (3 days): victim blaming and history of the same.
They were right though. The US flag is a fascist symbol.

Fuck the US government and fuck conservatives.
 
Merv

Merv

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Oct 27, 2017
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Switch Back 9 said:
I realize that, and even said so in my post. I feel bad for this guy and what happened to him was gross and wrong.

My point was addressing the other poster who said even if he was counter-protesting violence isn't the answer...and counter-protestors at events like this are often the ones wearing said symbols, and if not, are generally cool with people who do. So fuck em all.
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Trust me I understand the sentiment, but if you get people riled up and in this case wearing make shift riot gear, all the while salivating at the chance to pummel a Nazi, you're going to do your best to find a Nazi.
 
Steeped in a Sea of Games

Steeped in a Sea of Games

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
6,948
I understand feeling gross about the American flag, but uh, yeah. Unless there's pepe on it, that's really dumb. I find myself wanting to jump on the conspiracy train and assume that there's fake antifa trying to defang the movement, but I also know there's stupid people everywhere.
 
sphagnum

sphagnum

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Oct 25, 2017
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Dumb move on their part. Stick to fighting guys with specific fascist symbols unless the other person starts something very obviously.

I've got no love for the flag or what it represents but it's too difficult to distinguish between protestors and counterprotestors if that's all they've got on them.
 
inner-G

inner-G

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Oct 27, 2017
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PNW
Liberals should own respecting the flag

And respecting the right to not stand for it

It's not either-or
 
Starlite

Starlite

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
565
King Alamat said:
It already is, though. We just don't want to admit it.
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Switch Back 9 said:
Outside of America that's essentially exactly what the stars and stripes represents.
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Obviously a lot of heinous shit has been under the banner of the flag, but it still doesn't mean that we should allow the alt-right to co-opt it as their own symbol. As much as they may want it to be, America doesn't belong to them, even with certain individuals currently in power, and they shouldn't be allowed to take a symbol of the country as if they're a representation of what the country should be. America can and should be better.
 
Merv

Merv

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Oct 27, 2017
6,460
Fuck everybody in here talking shit about the American flag. If you're American, it's your flag just as much as any Alt-Right shit head or Red Neck with it flying from their bumper. Letting the right co-opt our national symbol is the biggest mistake you can ever make.
 
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