A Proud Boys demonstration in Portland, Oregon, became the subject of mockery after the far-right group misjudged the placement of a smoke bomb that went off near them in a Kmart parking lot.
The all-male, neo-fascist group was founded during the 2016 presidential election and are known for their violent protests in the U.S.
But it seems their recent rally, called "Summer of Love," literally went up in smoke.
The Proud Boys are now reduced to hanging out in the parking lot of an abandoned KMart, and they just accidentally smoke bombed themselves:pic.twitter.com/cKfuzeVFqL— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1629671626
Sunday's clash between right-wing demonstrators and left-wing protesters erupted into chaos that included exchanging paintballs, bear mace, in a roving brawl on busy neighborhood streets.
The violence culminated in gunshots in downtown Portland around 6 p.m. when anti-fascist demonstrators returned fire at a man who shot at them with a handgun.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the shooting incident, according to OPB.
In the smoke bomb clip, a group member, who stood on a rolling stage and shrouded in yellow smoke, was heard instructing:
"Could we move that smoke bomb a little bit out there? We got elderly people here, guys."
People had a field day trolling the group's smoky debacle.
@AshShimabukuro they set off a bomb on themselves— faye (@faye) 1629676014
The Proud Boys - right before the smoke bombpic.twitter.com/x4TgVe48fJ— Southern Belle (@Southern Belle) 1629672301
pic.twitter.com/Wxb1yuG5ec— billystringsphan (@billystringsphan) 1629671697
They are not exactly the brightest bunch.— \u262e\ufe0f AMS \ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udcda\ud83e\udd4e\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@\u262e\ufe0f AMS \ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udcda\ud83e\udd4e\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1629671806
Lol oh Lordy you can\u2019t make this sht up.https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1429572532886286339\u00a0\u2026— MaDukes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@MaDukes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1629674336
We have an education problem in this country.— G.L.Goben (@G.L.Goben) 1629672528
The location for the temporary stage at Kmart received honorable mention.
Good grief! It's a Kmart. Did they think it was a KKKmart? \n#SeditionHasConsequences— K Mott (@K Mott) 1629672377
Abandoned Kmart, Toys R Us.. these guys are the Spirit Halloween of bad political movements.— Gary T. Burnaska (@Gary T. Burnaska) 1629672977
Wow, it can\u2019t get any worse than K-Mart What\u2019s the \u201cblue light\u201d special today smoke bombs— Jeff - Palmer Report Reader (@Jeff - Palmer Report Reader) 1629685974
Maybe they're just setting up a Halloween USAhttps://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1429572532886286339\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udc7c\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8c\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc90\ud835\udc98\ud835\udc8f \ud835\udc7a\ud835\udc95\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc95\ud835\udc8e\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f (@\ud835\udc7c\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8c\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc90\ud835\udc98\ud835\udc8f \ud835\udc7a\ud835\udc95\ud835\udc96\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc95\ud835\udc8e\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f) 1629675639
They should have just gone to the Four Seasonspic.twitter.com/RjcfmiOjfv— Lizakaya \ud83c\udfbe (@Lizakaya \ud83c\udfbe) 1629673250
Local reporter Zane Sparling posted a tweet thread of videos capturing the anti-fascist protesters fighting back against the Proud Boys as they ran along 122nd Avenue.
Major clash between Proud Boys and Antifa happening now on 122nd in Portland \n\nPepper spray and airsoft deployed, fighting ongoing in the streetspic.twitter.com/z7V584qMuQ— Zane Sparling (@Zane Sparling) 1629673979
Journalists covering the melee were sprayed with chemicals and paint—injuring one local freelance photographer who had to seek medical treatment.
Journalist @MaranieRae has been injured, receiving treatment from medics now during street clashes between Proud Boys and Antifa in Portland.pic.twitter.com/RjBK5rP4YX— Zane Sparling (@Zane Sparling) 1629674277
Glass smashed, tires slashed after clash between Antifa and Proud Boys near local high schoolpic.twitter.com/yEpyFm0mnf— Zane Sparling (@Zane Sparling) 1629675232
Eric Ward, the executive director of the Western States Center—a nationwide organization to promote democracy and freedom from fear—called Sunday's unrest, "deeply disturbing."
Ward issued a written statement that read in part:
"The idea that Portland, or any city, can single-handedly defeat white nationalism is a fallacy. This incident needs to be a wake-up call for elected leaders at every level."
He added:
"This is a national problem that demands national resources. Anti-democratic violence is a threat that strikes at the heart of who we are as a country. It's time to act like it."
