Man pulls gun on Black Lives Matter protesters (whites mostly) in Portland

[RandallFan]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/287042-man-pulls-gun-on-protesters-in-portland


A man was arrested after he allegedly pulled a handgun on Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, Ore., Thursday night in an incident that occurred almost at the same a sniper opened fire on police officers at a protest in Dallas.


A video appears to show the man, identified by the Oregonian (http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/07/dont_shoot_pdx_protesting_poli.html#incart_gallery ) as 36-year-old Michael Strickland, arguing and backing away from protesters holding what appears to be a video camera.

[Danke]

Did I hear that correctly, "he's with laughing at liberals. "

[Cleaner44]

Dude feared for his life... and we all know that the state trains people to unholster their weapon when they fear for their life.

[Ronin Truth]

All lives are equal. Some lives are more equal than others. ;) :D

[fedupinmo]

Dude feared for his life... and we all know that the state trains people to unholster their weapon when they fear for their life.
Not knowing anything of his past, I would say his behavior regarding the potential threat was correct... evidenced by the return of the sidearm to the holster when the threat abated. I wouldn't wait to be surrounded either.
Of course if he instigated their behavior in any way, he's screwed.

[Ronin Truth]

All lives matter. Some lives matter more than others.

[AuH20]

He had his arm broken in three places previously by anti-gun protesters.

[Intoxiklown]

He had his arm broken in three places previously by anti-gun protesters.

Is this true?

I hope that a jury (he should demand a jury trial at his hearing) would find him innocent.

[Ender]

He had his arm broken in three places previously by anti-gun protesters.

Link?

[AuH20]

Link?

http://www.victoriataft.com/strickland-4-cops-a-2-a-activist-political-prisoner/


Third, you should know that about a year ago Strickland was attacked by an anti-second amendment filmmaker named Skye Fitzgerald and so badly hurt he was hospitalized and out of work for months. His arm was broken in three places. Though charged with a felony, Fitzgerald was never prosecuted by Multnomah County prosecutors.

Here is the video that I’m told was presented to Multnomah County prosecutors showing the beating. It has not been made public until it was shared on VictoriaTaft.com:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6lQsnZag80

[AuH20]

http://www.victoriataft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/gun-surround-him.gif

[JustinTime]

Its sad that he was arrested, considering he had been attacked and seriously hurt before.



Not knowing anything of his past, I would say his behavior regarding the potential threat was correct... evidenced by the return of the sidearm to the holster when the threat abated. I wouldn't wait to be surrounded either.
Of course if he instigated their behavior in any way, he's screwed.

Instigated? You mean he argued with them?

[P3ter_Griffin]

http://www.victoriataft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/gun-surround-him.gif


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvV3BQ-RoJw

Not that you really give a shit about what happened....

[ChristianAnarchist]

Looks like he responded to a very real threat. I would have pointed the gun at the ground in front of them unless they continued their advance though...

[ChristianAnarchist]

Is the guy being charged or what?

[P3ter_Griffin]

Looks like he responded to a very real threat. I would have pointed the gun at the ground in front of them unless they continued their advance though...


Anyone of those folks would have been right to draw and blow his fucking brains out. He approached them, he made no attempt to leave, he re-approached them after having drawn on them, he did not fear for his life, he wanted to go to a protest and pull out his gun and possibly shoot someone. He shit his pants when he saw the black person crossing the crosswalk... was that individual even a part of the protest or some random individual? If this guy was a cop he would leave a fucking body trail in his wake. Slap yourself in fucking the face.

[ChristianAnarchist]

Anyone of those folks would have been right to draw and blow his $#@!ing brains out. He approached them, he made no attempt to leave, he re-approached them after having drawn on them, he did not fear for his life, he wanted to go to a protest and pull out his gun and possibly shoot someone. He $#@! his pants when he saw the black person crossing the crosswalk... was that individual even a part of the protest or some random individual? If this guy was a cop he would leave a $#@!ing body trail in his wake. Slap yourself in $#@!ing the face.

Guess you didn't watch very much of it. There was another view that went 20 minutes right up to his "arrest". He was a video blogger (or whatever you call it) who was there to cover the protest. They started encroaching on him and pushing him back trying to take his gear. After a bit he pulled his weapon (I'm sure he feared for his life) and if he were one of the goons there would have been many dead bodies. Of course a minion is responsible for his actions so he rightly backed away and those stupid protesters continued to push him back after he'd holstered it. They pressured the guy about 2 blocks before the goons arrived and took him down. I think his only mistake was holstering the gun. If he'd kept it out and pointed down in front of him the protesters would have allowed him to leave peacefully...

[P3ter_Griffin]

Guess you didn't watch very much of it. There was another view that went 20 minutes right up to his "arrest". He was a video blogger (or whatever you call it) who was there to cover the protest. They started encroaching on him and pushing him back trying to take his gear. After a bit he pulled his weapon (I'm sure he feared for his life) and if he were one of the goons there would have been many dead bodies. Of course a minion is responsible for his actions so he rightly backed away and those stupid protesters continued to push him back after he'd holstered it. They pressured the guy about 2 blocks before the goons arrived and took him down. I think his only mistake was holstering the gun. If he'd kept it out and pointed down in front of him the protesters would have allowed him to leave peacefully...

The only 20 minute video I can find is 'Additional Footage of Man Pulling Gun at Portland Protest, Police Response and After Protest'. And it shows the same as all these other clips. Within 15 seconds of holstering his gun he is walking back towards the people he supposedly fears are going to take his life. They pressured the guy to get him the fuck away after he pulled a gun on the crowd and then wouldn't leave on his own accord. And they weren't aggressive about it. I saw another video from an individual who claims he is Strickland's friend saying that the 'black panther' escorting him from the area was being aggressive, but the clip shows that when the white dude in the grey hodie comes and nudges Strickland in the back the black guy keeps him away from Strickland and says 'I got this'. I fully believe this was intended to create a viral video to encourage other shitbags like Strickland to come armed to a BLM protest and antagonize until they get a chance to pull their gun. I fully believe Strickland's purpose of being there (and AuH20's support for this) was to spread hate and create division, not to promote understanding. I think it is clear in his actions. I think it is clear we must oppose this. Whether the emotion is hate or love we will overcome this tense period. But my feeling are that if it is hate many lives may be lost and I don't believe that is what Christ would want from us.

[BV2]

Anyone of those folks would have been right to draw and blow his $#@!ing brains out. He approached them, he made no attempt to leave, he re-approached them after having drawn on them, he did not fear for his life, he wanted to go to a protest and pull out his gun and possibly shoot someone. He $#@! his pants when he saw the black person crossing the crosswalk... was that individual even a part of the protest or some random individual? If this guy was a cop he would leave a $#@!ing body trail in his wake. Slap yourself in $#@!ing the face.

Yeah, cause in the video I can clearly see him advancing towards the crowd--which was interestingly spreading out. He probably shouldn't have muzzle swept the crowd like that though, that was dumb as shit.

[ChristianAnarchist]

The only 20 minute video I can find is 'Additional Footage of Man Pulling Gun at Portland Protest, Police Response and After Protest'. And it shows the same as all these other clips. Within 15 seconds of holstering his gun he is walking back towards the people he supposedly fears are going to take his life. They pressured the guy to get him the $#@! away after he pulled a gun on the crowd and then wouldn't leave on his own accord. And they weren't aggressive about it. I saw another video from an individual who claims he is Strickland's friend saying that the 'black panther' escorting him from the area was being aggressive, but the clip shows that when the white dude in the grey hodie comes and nudges Strickland in the back the black guy keeps him away from Strickland and says 'I got this'. I fully believe this was intended to create a viral video to encourage other $#@!bags like Strickland to come armed to a BLM protest and antagonize until they get a chance to pull their gun. I fully believe Strickland's purpose of being there (and AuH20's support for this) was to spread hate and create division, not to promote understanding. I think it is clear in his actions. I think it is clear we must oppose this. Whether the emotion is hate or love we will overcome this tense period. But my feeling are that if it is hate many lives may be lost and I don't believe that is what Christ would want from us.

Yeah, I'm sure you don't feel "threatened" when some dude shoves his face 4 inched from yours and keeps stepping toward you. My martial arts instructor has taken thugs down for just such behavior because he says he gives people ONE warning not to keep moving toward him and with the very next step (before the guy can get one step away from him BAM, he's on the ground and hurting. No, the behavior of that crowd was very stupid and they are lucky someone didn't feel threatened and hurt someone. Oh, if it were one of the goons you can BET someone would have been bleeding or dead behaving like that but for some reason you seem to be justifying the exact same behavior that I KNOW you would react to.

The streets are public spaces and protesters have a RIGHT to be there but so does anyone else. When they "pressure" people to leave they are no better than any other goon, with or without a gun...

[P3ter_Griffin]

Yeah, cause in the video I can clearly see him advancing towards the crowd--which was interestingly spreading out. He probably shouldn't have muzzle swept the crowd like that though, that was dumb as shit.

Fair enough, to clarify what I mean by he approached them is that he went down there with the intention of creating conflict and drawing his gun-- which is not explicit stated in any video I have seen-- but I think the video shows his actions which make clear this is his motive.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Yeah, I'm sure you don't feel "threatened" when some dude shoves his face 4 inched from yours and keeps stepping toward you. My martial arts instructor has taken thugs down for just such behavior because he says he gives people ONE warning not to keep moving toward him and with the very next step (before the guy can get one step away from him BAM, he's on the ground and hurting. No, the behavior of that crowd was very stupid and they are lucky someone didn't feel threatened and hurt someone. Oh, if it were one of the goons you can BET someone would have been bleeding or dead behaving like that but for some reason you seem to be justifying the exact same behavior that I KNOW you would react to.

The streets are public spaces and protesters have a RIGHT to be there but so does anyone else. When they "pressure" people to leave they are no better than any other goon, with or without a gun...

Hey, he wanted to become a hero, and he will be viewed as a hero by some. I rest my case and stand behind it.

[BV2]

Fair enough, to clarify what I mean by he approached them is that he went down there with the intention of creating conflict and drawing his gun-- which is not explicit stated in any video I have seen-- but I think the video shows his actions which make clear this is his motive.

The intention of creating conflict? Perhaps he is just bearing witness. I don't know. But you saying they would have been in there rights to blow that guy away is not something I'm going to agree with.

[P3ter_Griffin]

The intention of creating conflict? Perhaps he is just bearing witness. I don't know. But you saying they would have been in there rights to blow that guy away is not something I'm going to agree with.

ha. Do they need to wait to be shot to defend themselves? Pulling the gun was much more aggressive than any other action. He didn't even have a target he specified as being aggressive... as would have been shown by him pointing it at that individual... he was just waving it at the fucking crowd. I'm glad it did not happen, but I stand behind the statement.

I have stated the evidence that points to his motive. His lack of desire to end the conflict and leave while supposedly being in so much fear he needed to pull a gun, while continuing to grab at his gun like he's going to unholster it and not leaving! Having seen the pranksters and agitators in videos, having seen how people react when they really fear for their lives in videos, having read what individuals in the alt-right/trump/nationalist camp desire to see happen, to me it is clear this guy is an agent provocateur for them. Trying to spark off a race war.

[BV2]

ha. Do they need to wait to be shot to defend themselves? Pulling the gun was much more aggressive than any other action. He didn't even have a target he specified as being aggressive... as would have been shown by him pointing it at that individual... he was just waving it at the $#@!ing crowd. I'm glad it did not happen, but I stand behind the statement.

I have stated the evidence that points to his motive. His lack of desire to end the conflict and leave while supposedly being in so much fear he needed to pull a gun, while continuing to grab at his gun like he's going to unholster it and not leaving! Having seen the pranksters and agitators in videos, having seen how people react when they really fear for their lives in videos, having read what individuals in the alt-right/trump/nationalist camp desire to see happen, to me it is clear this guy is an agent provocateur for them. Trying to spark off a race war.

You ever had your ass kicked? I mean, really had it kicked. By more than one person?

Your statement? A man in a public space, with a different opinion than others in that space, should forfeit his right to be there or face death? Wtf? EDIT: This statement was made incorrectly. That clearly isn't what Peter was saying.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Your statement? A man in a public space, with a different opinion than others in that space, should forfeit his right to be there or face death? Wtf?

No. I don't think they had shown intent to harm him yet... the individuals walking towards him were much calmer and reasonable than he... one said something to the effect of 'what the hell are you doing, there are kids out here', when he pulled his gun, the fact that they had notepads and were documenting what was happening... But sure, he could stand his ground and start firing away at the aggressors, if that was his perception. I'm not saying that he violated anyone's rights (although he did provoke the ability for members of the crowd to justly defend themselves with his actions!). I'm saying that he didn't really fear for his life, that he put himself in this place on purpose and got the desired reaction, and that his motives were not good ones. Believe or don't I don't care, we all have our own realities. I'm just trying to save people from being trapped into a possible false one being brought on by those who want a race war, by those who want to see the proletarian left suffer.

[Danke]

No. I don't think they had shown intent to harm him yet... the individuals walking towards him were much calmer and reasonable than he... one said something to the effect of 'what the hell are you doing, there are kids out here', when he pulled his gun, the fact that they had notepads and were documenting what was happening... But sure, he could stand his ground and start firing away at the aggressors, if that was his perception. I'm not saying that he violated anyone's rights (although he did provoke the ability for members of the crowd to justly defend themselves with his actions!). I'm saying that he didn't really fear for his life, that he put himself in this place on purpose and got the desired reaction, and that his motives were not good ones. Believe or don't I don't care, we all have our own realities. I'm just trying to save people from being trapped into a possible false one being brought on by those who want a race war.

Just from what I read, but they were being physical with him. That to me is aggression. I don't believe I should have to cower and back down and wait for cops to show up and intervene.

Me personally, I would leave, but I also believe in stand your ground to these in your face authoritarians.

[BV2]

No. I don't think they had shown intent to harm him yet... the individuals walking towards him were much calmer and reasonable than he... one said something to the effect of 'what the hell are you doing, there are kids out here', when he pulled his gun, the fact that they had notepads and were documenting what was happening... But sure, he could stand his ground and start firing away at the aggressors, if that was his perception. I'm not saying that he violated anyone's rights (although he did provoke the ability for members of the crowd to justly defend themselves with his actions!). I'm saying that he didn't really fear for his life, that he put himself in this place on purpose and got the desired reaction, and that his motives were not good ones. Believe or don't I don't care, we all have our own realities. I'm just trying to save people from being trapped into a possible false one being brought on by those who want a race war, by those who want to see the proletarian left suffer.
As per your neg rep: "Anyone of those folks would have been right to draw and blow his $#@!ing brains out. He approached them, he made no attempt to leave, he re-approached them after having drawn on them..." So yeah, you did say that.

He approached them in a public space. For having a different opinion a crowd advanced on him, forcing him to retreat. They misjudged, and pushed to far so he drew. The video I saw shows a man retreating while a crowd advances on him. I didn't see him "reapproach" and don't see how he could've when he was arrested a few blocks down not long after.

Again, I think the guy is a dumbass--for many reasons. Mostly, because he muzzle swept a crowd. But I don't think it would've come to that if the crowd didn't advance on a guy in a menacing way.

EDIT: I just watched the second video you posted, and I am incorrect. I apologize. The guy definitely doesn't look like he is fearing for his life.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Just from what I read, but they were being physical with him. That to me is aggression. I don't believe I should have to cower and back down and wait for cops to show up and intervene.

Me personally, I would leave, but I also believe in stand your ground to these in your face authoritarian.

And so do I. I am not a bitch by any means. But I also do not seek to put myself into conflict, which is what I believe this guy did. If you seek out aggression and get it, and then respond with lethal defense, you are just as terrible a person as a murderer in my view.

I'd leave too, speaking in general about this type of situation irrelevant to my views of this specific one. Times are too tense to do different. And preserving a macho man ego is not worth killing people over. I'm trying to flush my ego down a toilet and to follow what I understand Jesus would want of me. And I don't think violence over preserving my ego is something He'd want.

[P3ter_Griffin]

As per your neg rep: "Anyone of those folks would have been right to draw and blow his $#@!ing brains out. He approached them, he made no attempt to leave, he re-approached them after having drawn on them..." So yeah, you did say that.

He approached them in a public space. For having a different opinion a crowd advanced on him, forcing him to retreat. They misjudged, and pushed to far so he drew. The video I saw shows a man retreating while a crowd advances on him. I didn't see him "reapproach" and don't see how he could've when he was arrested a few blocks down not long after.

Again, I think the guy is a dumbass--for many reasons. Mostly, because he muzzle swept a crowd. But I don't think it would've come to that if the crowd didn't advance on a guy in a menacing way.

EDIT: I just watched the second video you posted, and I am incorrect. I apologize. The guy definitely doesn't look like he is fearing for his life.

Right on brother. I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing it. This is a terrible turn for the worse if this becomes a new tactic. <3

[pcosmar]

But I also do not seek to put myself into conflict, which is what I believe this guy did. If you seek out aggression and get it, and then respond with lethal defense, you are just as terrible a person as a murderer in my view.


I as well.

It appeared to me as though he had gone there (with others) to provoke an incident.

and either you agree with the legal precedent or not .

"Fighting words" negates "Self Defense".

[P3ter_Griffin]

I as well.

It appeared to me as though he had gone there (with others) to provoke an incident.

and either you agree with the legal precedent or not .

"Fighting words" negates "Self Defense".

After reading Romans 13 I feel a little more confident in saying this: I'd banish his ass. The individuals who are on the receiving end of the provocation have the ability, and I believe are commanded to, 'turn the other cheek'. So if it does escalate, all parties, imo, share some culpability. I'd have a hard time treating someone who provoked a fight and then used lethal defense to defend themselves the same as a murderer, even if I view them equally immoral. But I sure wouldn't want that kind of person living in my society.... just my current thoughts I suppose.

[osan]

Of course if he instigated their behavior in any way, he's screwed.

Define "instigate".

[fedupinmo]

Define "instigate".

Have you ever taken CCW class? Typically if you egg on a fight and then use the weapon, you risk prosecution for your actions. If you do nothing to further any ill will and need to use the weapon, your risk of prosecution is much lower.
That kind of instigate.

[JustinTime]

I as well.

It appeared to me as though he had gone there (with others) to provoke an incident.

and either you agree with the legal precedent or not .

"Fighting words" negates "Self Defense".

That's horseshit. If you use that logic then nobody has freedom of speech if anyone disagrees.

You speak your mind, someone gets violent with you, its then your fault because you "provoked" the violent person?

If someone uses "fighting words" you use words to refute them, the first person who uses force is the one in the wrong.

[pcosmar]

That's horse$#@!.

It may be,

But it is established law.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fighting_words

[JustinTime]

It may be,

But it is established law.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fighting_words

Clowns in gowns. Any judge ruling that way should be punched in the face, then told his ruling was "fightin' words", he should have known his opinion would offend freedom loving people.

[phill4paul]

I Was Convicted Of Felonies After Antifa Attacked Me And I Drew Down On Them. Help Me Take The Case To SCOTUS


Before Michael Forest Reinoehl shot Aaron Danielson. Before Kyle Rittenhouse. Before Marquise Love punted Adam Haner’s head into the ground. Before the McCloskeys. Before Jake Gardner in Omaha. Before the Albequerqe guy shot people shouting they were going to kill him.

Before Andy Ngo was attacked. Before Joey Gibson and Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys. Before riots were commonplace in Portland. Before everyone and their mother were accused of being white supremacists. Before “antifa” was a household term. Before Trump was even the nominee for President.

There was me.

My name is Michael Strickland. Some of you may remember me from my stints at TGP affiliated site Progressives Today and my YouTube channel Laughing At Liberals. I used to film political events around the Portland area and report on them. What started off as a hobby blossomed into my actual job in 2015 after “documentarian” Skye Fitzgerald, who was caught lying to the mother of a disabled kid and the family of a shooting victim for a very biased documentary project on guns, stole two video cameras from me and body slammed onto the pavement, shattering my arm and leaving me too disabled to go back to my old line of work.

Since covering political events in the area had now become my job, I began covering more and more events. I was basically just filming wackjob leftists in the area saying and doing the things they say and do. Several of my videos and stories started going viral. News networks started buying my footage. International news distributors starting hiring me to cover local events. My videos were getting played on FOX news, MSNBC, and several local news broadcasts. I was becoming a serious problem for the left simply because I showed the world what they were all about.
This all came to a head on July 7th, 2016, when I was filming a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Portland. This was before one could assume that violence and destruction were going to happen. I was just standing there, holding a video camera on a monopod, filming the speakers on the steps of the Justice Center. I wasn’t there to argue with anyone or instigate anything, as I preferred a fly-on-the-wall style of filming protests.

A gang of antifa thugs made the conscious and deliberate decision to stage a physical altercation with me. They made a b-line right for me and started attacking me. I tried to get away, they kept coming after me, and with no police around, I eventually drew down on them with my legally carried Glock 27. Fortunately they all stopped coming at me at that moment, they ceased to be threats, and I reholstered, without firing a shot. Every move I made was in reaction to what other people were doing to me. Had I waited another second or two, until their bodies were on top of me, there would not have been that buffer zone, and there’s a significant chance that I would have had to do the unthinkable. I’m very thankful they all finally stopped and backed away from me at the point that I drew, and that that was the amount of force necessary to prevent them from doing further harm to me.

I reholstered after having my gun out for 7 seconds, just enough time to neutralize the threats. I was in a bit of a state of shock. I couldn’t believe I was in that predicament and I had to draw.
I continued to retreat up the block until police eventually showed up. To arrest me.

I attempted to explain that I had been attacked and that my actions were in self defense and that I had a Concealed Handgun License, but they didn’t care about anything I had to say. They didn’t even want to watch the video of it on my camera. They threw me in jail.



Many people ask what they can do to help. Well, most pressing is raising funds to pay the attorneys. I usually hate begging for money, but it all goes to pay for the attorneys and other legal costs. I have a PayPal set up at paypal.me/StricklandLegalFund and Oregon Firearms Federation has been gracious enough to once again take donations for my fund via their site, https://www.oregonfirearms.org/join-support-off , just please make a note on the check-out page that it’s for my fund so they know where to allocate the money.

I’m very thankful to those who have donated, both in the past and more recently. I plan on hosting an exclusive livestream Q&A event for anyone who has donated, past or present. There’s no way I would have been able to survive this without the help of so many who have chipped in.


Speaking of Oregon Firearms Federation, they have been there every step of the way helping me out. The same cannot be said for a certain other, very large, supposedly pro gun organization.

Unfortunately, the NRA has been silent on this issue thus far. Though, now that the case is going up to SCOTUS and nationwide precedent can be set, maybe they’ll realize they have to take action and help out. If the Heller case established an individual’s right to own a gun for self defense, then the Strickland case may very well decide if a person can draw their legally owned and carried firearm in self defense. If you’re an NRA member, you should be lighting them up to get involved in my case. Heck, even if you’re not an NRA member, I implore you to hit the NRA pages on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms, encouraging them to help out. My hope is that they will get involved.

The NRA and other organizations can file what’s called Amicus Curiae, which is “friend of the court” status. This allows groups and other interested parties who are not directly involved in the case to submit briefs to the court in support of me, and they can make other legal arguments and approach the matter from different angles.

Other groups, such as 1st Amendment and free press organizations and non profits, as well as justice reform groups, should also take interest in this. My case spans a variety of Constitutional, civil, and due process rights, regardless of political leanings. Leftist groups, such as the ACLU, should be up in arms over the way the courts treated me. My brief to the Supreme Court is due November 25th, and interested third parties have 30 days after that to file Amicus.


If they can do these things to me, they can do it to anyone. They can do it to you, your family, your loved ones, your doctor, your auto mechanic, your neighbor. I have no doubt that shady police, unethical DA’s, and crooked judges are using these tactics to lock up innocent people every day. This is our best chance to overturn these practices. I am fighting not just for my rights, not just to clear my name, but for everyone’s rights. Help me win this for all of us.

Much more at link describing the slog through the court system....

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/09/convicted-felonies-antifa-attacked-drew-help-take-case-scotus/