Dozens in body armor arrive in Portland for right-wing rally

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Dozens of people wearing militarized body armor are arriving early for a right-wing rally Saturday in Portland, Oregon that is expected to attract thousands who support President Donald Trump and his law and order reelection campaign as tensions boil over nationwide following the decision not to charge officers in Louisville, Kentucky, for killing Breonna Taylor.

Two hours before the event was to start, dozens of people began showing up, some packed into the beds of pickup trucks. Almost everyone was wearing some sort of militarized body armor, including helmets and protective vests. Many flew American flags or black flags bearing the logo of the Three Percenters, another far-right group and some wore Make America Great Again hats.

The Proud Boys, a group that has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, described it as a free speech event to support Trump and the police, restore law and order and condemn anti-fascists, domestic terrorism and violent gangs of rioting felons in the streets. Local and state elected officials forcefully condemned the event and rushed to shore up law enforcement ranks as left-wing groups organized several rallies to oppose the Proud Boys message.

via apnews.com