It was absolute mayhem when the police and Proud Boys group started having a conflict with each other, leading to arrests, people being shot by non-lethal rounds, and a wicked confrontation that saw two groups squaring up amid protest that turned into an unlawful assembly in Salem, Oregon.
And you guessed it, Antifa was there too.
At one point there was a line of police in between the Proud Boys and Antifa, and the Proud Boys were taunting the Antifa through the line of police.
During all the commotion, the police had attempted to get Proud Boys to move back, but tensions were flaring and tempers lit up the area as cops started to push them back out of the area. That’s when shots were fired, which were likely the pepper balls, and even some arrests were made.
It was at that point that Proud Boys began yelling at the police too.
Independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager was on the scene recording video and captured a ton of action, then posted clips of the incidents on his timeline. Some of the videos may contain a bit of intense action or language, so there’s your warning about all of that.
We now have a situation where cops are in the middle of two sides bitter with each other and taking heat from all ends. This does not look good.
WATCH the videos:
The Proud Boys taunt a handful of Antifa standing behind the line of police in Salem #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys #Antifa pic.twitter.com/WOIKOLm4e4
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
Police push into the Proud Boys as they try to move their group away from Antifa, firing off pepper balls after they challenged the move #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys #Antifa pic.twitter.com/0JcrpUoxGT
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
Unlawful assembly declared in Salem here on New Years Day #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys #Antifa pic.twitter.com/L0tnpgCj0z
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
“Make sure that that thing is not pointed in my direction” Police instruct a Black Lives Matter protester brandishing a paintball gun against the Proud Boys #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/3CmcGIifQ2
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
Police make an arrest as they push the crowd back towards the Oregon State Capitol #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/v5BpLca9Iz
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
Police arresting one of the Trump supporters after declaring an unlawful assembly and ordering the group to leave #Salem #Oregon pic.twitter.com/yUhnee8kW8
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
A smoke canister is thrown to try to disperse the crowd of Proud Boys & Trump supporters, who toss it back at the line of police before more pepper balls are shot off #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/cgxMCFH7uk
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
Police push one of the Proud Boys to the ground as they move the group back to the Capitol #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/Y5Z1SZsvFU
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
“We showed up for you ten f***ing months in a row” A man tells police as they push the crowd of Trump supporters through Wilson Park next to the Capitol #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/L2s8T1HYs1
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021
“F*** the blue!” Proud Boys yell at police at the end of tonight’s demonstration #Salem #Oregon #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/hrVd3fzRa1
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) January 2, 2021