A progressive, “anti-fascist” owner of a Portland, Oregon bar allowed his Antifa patrons to use illegal weapons against conservative demonstrators during a May Day brawl, according to an investigation by state regulators.
“Cider Riot” bar owner Abram Goldman-Armstrong and a security guard who was working for him that day also refused to remove unruly customers from the property and provided misleading statements to authorities during the investigation according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) report obtained by The Oregonian.
The investigation’s findings conflict with those reached by local law enforcement officials who charged six men affiliated with Patriot Prayer, including founder Joey Gibson, with felony riot charges after the Cider Riot melee. Gibson faces a $1-million lawsuit from Goldman-Armstrong.
The Oregonian/Oregon Live reported:
A number of anti-fascist, or antifa, activists were holding a celebration at Cider Riot on May 1 when police and prosecutors say Gibson and several associates took multiple steps to incite a brutal brawl outside the Northeast Couch establishment.
A chaotic scene erupted, with shouting, swearing, fighting, drink-throwing, rock-throwing and people using pepper spray or mace on others. Multiple people were injured.
Much of the clash was captured on video, which investigators reviewed alongside interviews with Goldman-Armstrong, the security guard and other staff, to form the basis of its findings.
State investigators interviewed Goldman-Armstrong, the security guard, other staff, and Gibson, as well as journalists Andy Ngo and Noah Bucci who were on the scene. Ngo and Bucci “have publicly defended Patriot Prayer and other right-wing groups and criticized anti-fascist activists” according to the Oregonian.
The brawl lasted more than half an hour according to the state report and Goldman-Armstrong photographed customers using “illegal weapons” as multiple people were getting injured.
“Goldman-Armstrong stated that his patrons were only acting in self-defense but clearly, according to the video, he was present and watching as patrons displayed aggressive behavior,” wrote state inspector Genny Welp.
State rules require unruly customers to be removed from establishments that serve alcohol, but the Cider Riot owner made no attempts to do so. He finally called for an employee to call police a half hour after the fights started.
According to the Oregonian, “The report recommends Cider Riot’s owner and staff to be charged with providing false statements, failure to evict and permitting unlawful and disorderly activity, all state alcohol license violations. A charge of destroyed or concealed evidence also appears in the report, but the details of that allegation are redacted.”
The damning state investigative report recommends multiple charges against the owner, Abram Goldman-Armstrong & his @CiderRiot staff. In May, I was one of the people attacked by a masked patron from pub. An OSU student journalist was also left bloodied. pic.twitter.com/BUxlk9lQqC
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2019
Multiple videos posted to social media documented the action …
breaking: far-right protesters and Proud Boys have arrived at Cider Riot. Cider Riot has done benefits for antifa and has also been vandalized in the past. RIOOOT. huge fight! pic.twitter.com/PKeRdYCF6d
— Mikeford Biziths (@itsmikebivins) May 2, 2019
the fight between antifa and the far-right outside @CiderRiot was brutal. #mayday #Portland pic.twitter.com/wGgLwJmIDD
— Mikeford Biziths (@itsmikebivins) May 2, 2019
This confrontation is reported to involve the Cider Riot security guard wearing the mask …
round one of an MMA fight between guy in anti-communist action shirt and masked antifa outside cider riot pic.twitter.com/KOsjds9XS3
— Mikeford Biziths (@itsmikebivins) May 2, 2019
Ngo tweeted several updates after the story about the OLCC report was published …
State report says owner & its staff provided false statements to them: @CiderRiot security Joseph LeVasseaur originally said he stood by door to check IDs. Video show him pepper spraying & fighting people. Owner said he instructed staff to call police. Report says that’s false.
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2019
There have been no arrests of any antifa-affiliated people from the May Day riot at Cider Riot. 6 right-wing people, including Joey Gibson, were arrested & charged for their alleged roles in the brawl. Ian Kramer has been jailed for allegedly hitting Heather Clark w/a baton.
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2019
The investigation by state regulators into @CiderRiot, the pub popular with antifa militants in Portland, shows a charge of destroying or concealing evidence, but the details are redacted. Earlier this week, the owner put the pub on sale for $875k.
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2019
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Victor Rantala is an Army vet who lives in Minnesota, he is a former intelligence analyst and business owner, and is an NRA Life member who is officially retired but has yet to slow his roll.
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