You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
-Great Cultural Revolution
Man gets 10 years for pointing a firearm during Portland protests
2021-12-12
[ABCNews] A far-right extremist has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his violent actions during August 2020 protests against racial injustice in Oregon’s largest city

Alan Swinney was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon, attempted assault, pointing a firearm at another, and second degree unlawful use of mace, among other charges, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Portland residents saw almost nightly protests after a white officer murdered George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis last year, with some rallies erupting in chaos and counterprotests.
after a white officer murdered George Floyd, a Black man
“As evidenced by the defendant’s escalating violence, letters, social media statements and testimony, the defendant has no remorse for his actions, no desire to change and every intention of engaging in future acts of violence,” Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez wrote in a sentencing memo.

Swinney, 51, was among dozens of far-right demonstrators Aug. 22, 2020, who fired paintball guns and sprayed mace at anti-fascist demonstrators during a violent brawl in downtown Portland.

Many in the crowd were carrying firearms, but authorities said at one point Swinney pulled a revolver and pointed it at the crowd of counterprotesters.

To support their sentencing recommendation, prosecutors included a handwritten letter Swinney tried to send to Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicting of killing Floyd, sparking months of nationwide protests.

In the letter, Swinney expressed sympathy for Chauvin after his conviction, telling him to keep his head up because he could win on appeal or be freed through other means.

“Another thing that may end up working in your favor is that this country is headed toward civil war,” Swinney wrote. “I see it ramping up. Civil war will get you out of jail. It’ll get me out too.”
Burying the lede:
Swinney is a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys.

He earlier admitted, as part of a civil settlement, to assaulting a woman during an August 2020 protest in Portland.
Related:
Proud Boys: 2021-11-20 Capital Punishment - Everything you were told about Jan 6 was a lie
Proud Boys: 2021-11-19 Iran hackers stole US voter data, posed as Proud Boys in effort to influence 2020 election: feds
Proud Boys: 2021-10-26 Meet Ray Epps: The Fed-Protected Provocateur Who Appears To Have Led The Very First 1/6 Attack On The U.S. Capitol
Posted by:NN2N1

#3  If you are going to get 10 years for brandishing, seems to me you might as well get a couple rounds off.
Posted by: SteveS   2021-12-12 14:21  

#2  It's not just Portland.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-12 09:16  

#1  If you didn't think there's a two-tier justice system, file this away in your notebook.
Posted by: Mercutio   2021-12-12 09:08  

00:00