Portland Parks Bureau denies permit for Proud Boys to hold rally at Delta Park, citing coronavirus s [View all]
Source: The Oregonian
The city of Portland has denied a permit to the far-right group Proud Boys, which has been planning a rally on Saturday in North Portland’s Delta Park, finding that the group’s estimated crowd of 10,000 people exceeds public safety measures in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.
The right-wing group, which has gained national attention for its heated rhetoric and marches that often devolve into violence, originally planned to hold the rally in Terry Schrunk Plaza. The change in venue was made, the group said in a statement last week, “in order to accommodate … a ‘battalion of patriots’ who are ready to exercise their constitutionally protected right to assemble.”
But the city’s Park Bureau, in consultation with Mayor Ted Wheeler, found that the group’s large crowd estimate ran counter to safeguards necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to city officials.
The city found the described event gathering would not comply with Oregon Health Authority guidelines about the number of people allowed in gatherings and can’t be conducted with proper physical distancing, according to Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees the Parks Bureau.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/09/porltands-parks-bureau-denies-proud-boys-permit-to-hold-rally-at-delta-park-citing-coronavirus-safeguards.html
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