SALEM, Or. – A group of about 300 protesters tried to enter two separate entrances to the Oregon State Capitol on Monday, furious lawmakers held a special session that was not open to the public.
The crowd was a loose gathering of members of the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other far-right groups, many of them armed with pistols and rifles. At one point during the demonstration, which began around 9 a.m., a woman attempted to climb into a window on the west side of the government building. Oregon State Troopers, however, repelled her – before two more soldiers showed up to insist that she get off the ledge.
Those troopers were quickly chased away by screaming protesters, many of whom carried long black guns.
Minutes later, the crowd moved to the north entrance of the building, trying to make their way inside. A dozen soldiers arrived at the door, declared it an illegal gathering and pushed the crowd back, with some sort of deterrent in a series of doll, ”after which the protesters swarmed out again, watering their eyes and coughing.
About 100 protesters soon entered the lobby anyway, and state forces again tried to force them to leave. Salem police told The Daily Beast that the streets around the Capitol had been closed and residents were asked to avoid the area if possible due to ongoing protests.
“I’m here to support the constitutional rights of people and business in Oregon [owners.] These people are unemployed and their lives are being ruined by this situation and especially by a government that appears to have adopted totalitarian attitudes, ”a protester who referred to himself only by his first name, Duane, told The Daily Beast.
Around 10 a.m., soldiers from the building began pushing protesters to the north door. More than a dozen officers were also outside, beating out protesters who tried to push back.
“You are traitors to the American people,” a protester shouted at the troopers in the building.
However, protesters quickly changed course. Three men with long guns moved to the west side of the building, encouraging everyone to open a door there. Once opened successfully, the protesters demanded to be allowed in, but troopers forced everyone to stay out.
Outside, a showdown began between troopers in riot gear and the protesters, while some people chanted ‘shame’ while dozens sang the national anthem. A woman was also seen with a pitchfork with an American flag attached. Troopers eventually responded with pepper spray and blue gas – breaking up some of the crowd. At 1:30 pm the protest counted about 50 people.
“We are now declaring this area a patriotic autonomous zone. If Antifa can do it, so can we, ”a protester said over a megaphone, before calling for help to bring down fences and tarps.
Despite the chaotic outcry, some protesters managed to keep selling pro-Trump merchandise in a tent set up outside the Capitol, including ‘Stop The Steal’ sweaters. Surrounded by Trump 2020 flags, the tent also featured American and Trump hats.
The state government’s agenda was about pandemic relief and whether or not to allow restaurants and bars to serve cocktails, both sensitive topics for a crowd calling restrictions enacted by local lawmakers and Gov. Kate Brown “tyranny.” The special session, the third since March, would provide $ 800 million in aid to the residents of Oregon.
During the session, Brown was also expected to ask lawmakers to continue various protections for residents amid the ongoing pandemic, including relief for landlords and tenants, and a bill to protect schools from some lawsuits.
“We will not give up easily, everyone will come in!” said a protester with a knife on his belt and a bulletproof vest as he entered the lobby. ‘This is our state. This is our building. ”
To date, 1,341 people have died and about 103,000 more have been infected with the coronavirus in Oregon.