User:Darkness Shines/pprewrite

Patriot Prayer are a conservative advocacy group based in Portland, Oregon, America. They have held rallies in support of free speech as well as the presidency of Donald Trump. The group have been described as being 'anti-government', however Joey Gibson, the founder of Patriot Prayer, has said he espouses 'small government'. The group have also been described as being 'right wing' though Gibson identifies as 'conservative-libertarian'. They have held rallies in predominantly modern liberal areas such as Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco. Patriot Prayer has been connected to the alt-right, a charge Gibson denies. Some of the rallies have drawn controversy due to the attendance of white nationalists, which has lead to violent confrontations with counter-protesters, however Gibson, a Japanese-American, has repeatedly disavowed them and denounced racism. The group describes itself as free speech advocates, who are exercising their first amendment rights.

Background
Gibson says he has always been passionate about politics, but would be "sitting in my house, complaining like everyone.” He says he got into activism after seeing supporters of the Trump presidency brawling with counter protesters. Gibson says of the incident that what he saw was "people being discouraged from participating in politics." Gibson identifies as conservative libretarian and says he voted for Donald Trump.

Reception
The Southern Poverty Law Centre(SPLC) does not list Patriot Prayer as a hate group, nor list Gibson as an extremist. David Neiwert, writing for the SPLC's blog Hatewatch has accused Patriot Prayer of 'trolling' the northwest with the intention of provoking a response from far-left antifacists. Neiwert also commented on Gibson's denunciation of neo-Nazis and white supremacists at a rally held in Seattle on 13 August and that there had been no white nationalist members at that venue.

Valerie Richardson writing in the Washington Times has said that critics of Gibson have argued that his rallies, even though they are not sponsored by white nationalists do attract those with racist outlooks. The SPLC have noted that the organizers of the 7 August 2017 rally had “promised the critics who talked with them that racist elements had been denounced and uninvited from the rally.” but that the Proud Boys, and members of Identity Evropa (IE) as well as local IE leader, Jake Van Ott were seen at the event. Gibson says that people who are affiliated with IE have appeared at his events, but has made it clear they were unwelcome and has ejected them when possible. Gibson also says “It’s a constant problem because we get these random people that are trying to provoke and they’re trying to agitate,”

According to the BBC Patriot Prayer have been connected to the alt-right as well as other far-right groups, Gibson denies this saying the group is neither white nationalist or alt-right, saying they support “freedom, love and peace".

Rallies
A rally which was to be held at Crissy Field on 26 August 2017, and which was cancelled by Gibson who cited 'safety concerns' was to have African Americans, Samoan American's, Latinos and a transgender speaking at the event. The rally caused controversy as it was scheduled one week after the killings of two men by Jeremy Christian in an alleged racially motivated attack. Christian had attended an earlier Patriot Prayer rally, from which he was ejected. The mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler had requested the federal authorities revoke the permit saying he was concerned over increasing tensions in the city due to the stabbings. The manager's of the park denied the request, stating that the permit had been lawfully obtained weeks beforehand. The Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union's legal director, Mat Dos Santos, said it was unconstitutional of Wheeler to attempt to prevent the demonstration based on the political and personal viewpoints of those who organized the event. Gibson said of allegations that the event was a 'white supremacist rally', "For those of you who believe we are seriously going to throw a white nationalist supremacist rally in San Francisco, it’s time for logic,” In a video posted to his Facebook page Gibson said, “We have a black speaker, two Hispanic speakers, we’ve got an Asian, a brown speaker right here (referring to himself) — we got a transsexual, and we aren’t talking about race.”

Following the cancellation of the rose parade due to threats of violence against the Multnomah County Republican Party who were to take part in the rally, allegedly from anti-fascist groups, Gibson organized a 'March for Free Speech' to occur on the 29th of April 2017. Gibson told the Guardian, "We are going to continue with our rally. There is no way that we will stop. It is even more important that we come out with a strong message of love.” There were an estimated 60 counter protesters and police said there had been three arrests.