Next on the Patriot Prayer Chopping Block: Founder Joey Gibson, Three Others

More fallout from the ill-fated May 1 outing where Patriot Prayer/Proud Boys took on antifa at their hangout spot and lost.

PORTLAND, OR – Two days before a huge rally is to be held in town by the neo-Fascist Proud Boys where the organizer has suggested violent conflicts with antifa, four more members of another neo-Fascist group called Patriot Prayer, including its founder Joey GIbson have been criminally charged stemming from their activities from a May 1 rally where they allegedly instigated fights with antifa outside a cidery where they were holding an event. Gibson has been accused of orchestrating the entire event.

At press time, Gibson, who has been charged with rioting, has not turned himself in to authorities, but he told talk radio host Lars Larson he’s preparing to do so, maintaining that the charge is intended to prevent him from participating in Saturday’s rally. “I think it’s a shame,” Gibson said. “This is a complete attack on the First Amendment. “I literally stood on a sidewalk and got attacked.”

Gibson, however, has been accused of planning the rally where twenty of his associates followed antifa to the Cider Riot after a May Day celebration in town, resulting in a clash between the two groups that although the neo-fascists were routed, still resulted in serious injuries, notably to a woman who suffered a broken vertebrae. Proud Boy Ian Kramer has been charged with assaulting her with a metal baton.

In addition to Gibson, three others among his group also have been arrested for their role in the brawl. Former Proud Boy Russell Schultz, who is known among Portlanders as one of the biggest instigators of the violence coming from neo-Fascists there, was arrested today and charged with felony rioting. Mackenzie Lewis has been also charged with rioting, while Christopher Ponte turned himself in and was booked on Aug. 13 for third-degree assault and riot, both felonies.

There has now been six neo-fascists currently facing charges for their participation in the May 1 brawl. Matthew Deme Cooper, who had been named in the same indictment as Kramer’s, was also arrested today.

Gibson also faces a $1 million lawsuit from the owner of Cider Riot.