Looking Back: Anti-Semitism From The 2010-2020s in Portland, Oregon

 Nadene Goldfoot                                     

                                    My favorite theater fairly near my old home
          "Mike and Brian McMenamin bought the theater in 1991 and reopened it as the Bagdad Theatre and Pub. The balcony wall was dismantled to return the theater to a single screen, with seating for 590. Alternating rows of seats and long tables face the movie screen to accommodate the serving of food and beverage. This I didn't know as I had moved from this area. I'm glad to see they found ways to stay in business with all the competition they had.

Thousands of marchers took place in Portland on June 3, 2020 during 100 days of Portland Protests of racial injustice;  which is a switch from anti-Semitic acts brought out by the death of George Floyd, a Black man police killed in Minneapolis.    

Between 2010 and 2020, Portland, Oregon, experienced a noticeable rise in antisemitic incidents, driven by an increase in far-right extremist activity, white nationalist propaganda, and a broader national surge in bias crimes.

Context and Extremist Activity

Far-Right Groups: The Pacific Northwest and the Portland metro area saw active organizing by various white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups during this decade. 
Volksfront: Founded originally in 1994 in Oregon, this violent neo-Nazi skinhead group maintained a local presence in the Portland metro area into the early 2010s. The organization officially announced its complete dissolution in August 2012, citing mounting pressure from law enforcement scrutiny and community anti-racist campaigns. 
The Proud Boys: Established nationally in 2016, the Proud Boys emerged as a dominant force in Portland street demonstrations starting around 2017. While describing themselves as "Western chauvinists" rather than explicit white nationalists, watchdogs and civil rights organizations documented overlapping memberships, white supremacist ties, and regular involvement in violent clashes in downtown Portland.Delta Park (September 26, 2020): Hundreds of far-right demonstrators and Proud Boys gathered for a permitted afternoon rally, which drew separate counter-protests at Peninsula Park and historic Vanport. Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency for the weekend. 
Patriot Prayer: Based out of nearby Washington county/Vancouver and led by Joey Gibson, this group organized numerous provocative rallies in downtown Portland beginning in 2017. They frequently collaborated with extremist elements, white nationalists, and the Proud Boys, drawing massive counter-protests and frequent physical street brawls. In 2017 and 2018, Gibson considered himself to be a moderate libertarian. His organization has been described in the media as "alt-right". Gibson has denied that his group is alt-right, and has disavowed white supremacists who frequently appear at his events. In 2017, the Anti-Defamation League described his views as appearing to be alt-lite.
Rejects white supremacy and biological racism openly embraced by the alt-right.Focuses heavily on civic nationalism, anti-immigration stances, and anti-feminism.Amplifies right-wing populism and deep distrust of mainstream media. 

Patriot Front & Network Elements: Toward the tail end of the decade (post-2017/2018), decentralized white nationalist entities like Patriot Front began targeting the Pacific Northwest with localized propaganda distribution, flyering campaigns, and flash demonstrations. 

Public Demonstrations: Extremist groups frequently used public spaces, highway overpasses, and local events to drop banners, distribute hateful fliers, and engage in rallies that heightened tensions for the local Jewish community. 

Incidents of Harassment and Vandalism

Vandalism: Synagogues, Jewish community institutions, and public cultural sites experienced periodic acts of anti-Jewish vandalism, graffiti, and intimidation.
Harassment: The Anti-Defamation League  documented a steady upward trend in harassment and localized targeting of Jewish students in schools and public spaces, particularly mirroring national record highs toward the end of the decade. 
AI Overview
Watchdogs like the Southern Poverty Law Center have listed specific Black separatist or nationalist groups with antisemitic or anti-white ideologies as having a presence in Portland, including the Black Riders Liberation Party, the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ, and the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge. 
• Black Riders Liberation Party: Designated as a Black nationalist/separatist extremist group that promotes militant and hostile ideologies.founded in the United States in 1996. The group claims ideological continuity with the original Black Panther Party and focuses on fighting white supremacy and capitalist oppression. 
Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ: A sect within the Black Hebrew Israelite movement tracked for promoting discriminatory views regarding faith and identity.
Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge
 (ISUPK): Another radical Black Hebrew Israelite branch known for public street teachings that often include antisemitic and discriminatory claims. 
Local civil rights experts and watchdogs note that while these groups are formally cataloged on hate group maps, their active public footprint and localized threat level.

Reporting Systems: In response to the growing climate of hate, the Oregon Department of Justice launched the Bias Response Hotline in January 2020 to document hate crimes and bias incidents. 
Local Defense: Regional security networks and community organizations, such as the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, increased security infrastructure, training, and interfaith coalitions to support affected institutions.