PORTLAND, OR– Andy Ngo, editor-at-large of The Post Millennial, a Canadian conservative news website, has gained national attention recently for his reporting on the violence raging through the streets of Portland, caused by terrorist organizations such as Antifa.
Since the riots began in May following the death of George Floyd, far-left extremist groups have used violence to force the hand of many politicians, companies, and organizations in order to get what they want.
Additionally, as we have seen this past week, those who speak out on topics that do not “conform” to the messaging of the left, are silenced in one way or another.
This combination of things has now come together to effect Andy Ngo personally. On Monday, January 11th, a Portland bookstore announced that it will not sell Ngo’s soon to be released book on its shelves. This announcement comes after the local bookstore chain was harassed by far-left protesters.
I just preordered this book by @MrAndyNgo. I can’t wait! https://t.co/iBd1Zrim6i via @amazon
— Bob in SoCal (@bvparrot) January 12, 2021
Fox News reported that Powell’s Books had been facing backlash ahead of the February release of “Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy,” causing its flagship store to close early on Monday as a “safety precaution,” according to the local TV affiliate KOIN.
The protests became so out of control that customers in the book store were allegedly escorted out the back door for their own safety.
In a video that was shared on Twitter, protesters stood outside of Powell’s Books and chanted:
“STOP SELLING ANDY NGO’S BOOK” and “HELL NO, WE WON’T NGO”
"STOP SELLING ANDY NGO'S BOOK"
"HELL NO, WE WON'T NGO"A crowd of #antifa have gathered outside @Powells bookstore in downtown Portland to demand they pull my book from their website. The store has already announced it won't stock the book on shelves. pic.twitter.com/bsX5HMGDSW
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) January 11, 2021
A woman can also be heard initiating the crowd in shouting:
“Stop selling Andy Ngo’s book!”
Twitter backlash appeared to start on Sunday, January 10th, and gained steam Monday morning, with users complaining Powell’s was “propagating racism and right-wing ideology” and supporting a “fascist gravy train book for a nazi-collaborating Portlander”, according to KOIN.
Although Powell’s Book will sell the upcoming book online, they released a statement on Monday saying they will not be carrying it on their shelves.
The book store took to Twitter for their announcement, saying:
“At Powell’s, a lot of our inventory is hand-picked and hand-promoted. And a lot of our inventory is not hand-picked. Unmasked by Andy Ngo came to us through an automatic data feed via one of our long-term partners, Hachette Book Group,”
At Powell’s, a lot of our inventory is hand-picked and hand-promoted. And a lot of our inventory is not hand-picked. Unmasked by Andy Ngo came to us through an automatic data feed via one of our long-term partners, Hachette Book Group. (1 of 3)
— Powell's Books (@Powells) January 11, 2021
The statement continued:
“This book will not be placed on our shelves. We will not promote it. That said, it will remain in our online catalog. We carry a lot of books we find abhorrent, as well as those that we treasure We believe it is the work of bookselling to do so.”
We believe it is the work of bookselling to do so. Please see our full commitment to free speech here: https://t.co/pqnaVE6D2W (3 of 3)
— Powell's Books (@Powells) January 11, 2021
Despite blocking Ngo’s book from its shelves, Powell’s Book insists it has a “commitment to free speech.”
Ngo told Fox News, alluding to the bookstore’s program that celebrates books deemed controversial:
“Given that Powell’s dedicates part of every year to banned and censored books, it’s a shame they’ve made the decision to restrict in-store sales of a book by a local author weeks ahead of release,”
Ngo continued:
“However, I also have sympathy for them given how ruthless Antifa have been in vandalizing and hurting local businesses.”
Hundreds of Antifa supporters, many in riot gear, march through New York City, attack female journalist
January 11, 2021
MANHATTAN, NY- On Sunday, January 10th, a group of approximately 25 demonstrators wearing black bloc and carrying defensive shields formed up at an intersection in Manhattan to march to Times Square.
— Polish American Brotherhood (@PoAmBrotherhood) January 11, 2021
Independent journalist Any Ngô posted a video of a militia of Antifa members marching to claim ownership of the public space.
“Our mother f—kin streets!”
A militia of #antifa black bloc carrying shields marched in Manhattan yesterday to claim ownership of the public space. Similar gatherings elsewhere, some of which are violent, have occurred since the social media ban of Trump. pic.twitter.com/Zq2yz41YxL
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) January 11, 2021
As a larger crowd of protester assembled behind their formation, the marchers chanted, “Whose (expletive) streets? Our (expletive) streets” and “What’s that noise? (expletive) the Proud Boys.” Black Lives Matter activist Joshua Potash captured video showing the march through the streets.
A large mob of #antifa are currently marching with riot gear in the streets of New York City. pic.twitter.com/28CuKsgHJR
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) January 10, 2021
The march grew in numbers as it made its way through Times Square.
NYC is out in force right now, marching against fascism and the far right. pic.twitter.com/bmMIqMgam0
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) January 10, 2021
Social media journalist Tara Szczpanski reported being assaulted by some from the protest.
She reported having an egg smashed on the back of her head. In the video she tweeted, she is seen being assaulted by at least two men. One sprayed her with a chemical string and another appeared to strike her with a skateboard.
Footage caught across of when I was trying to get away, and I’m screaming to get off me, they hitting me with the umbrella and then knock my equipment, when I picked it up they smashed the egg and hit me in the head, then knocked my phone off. #BLM #Antifa #TrumpSupporter #NYC pic.twitter.com/JOh3t2QGeM
— Polish American Brotherhood (@PoAmBrotherhood) January 10, 2021
Some in the crowd shouted at her, “She’s a (expletive) Nazi.” Before the man with the skateboard strikes her, someone shouted, “She supports Trump, why are you protecting her?”
A second video reportedly shows her being harassed and attacked by a larger group. A person outside of camera-view reaches in and smashes an egg on the back of her head. Szczepanski rushed to nearby NYPD police officers and as she does so, appears to be assaulted again.
She claims that when she reached the officers, they told her to “stay 6 feet from them” and that they “let her be attacked.” In the video she posted, it does not seem that any officer told her to stay away.
I ran to the #NYP for help they told me to stay 6 feet from them and let me be attacked. pic.twitter.com/otVQaY9R0V
— Polish American Brotherhood (@PoAmBrotherhood) January 10, 2021
In the video, an individual wearing a cop costume and a pig mask is seen pushing a microphone in her direction. In another video posted by Potash, that same individual is seen harassing police officers trying to maintain the peace.
One NYPD officer is trying to ask his brothers which of them are proud boys, but they’re not very responsive pic.twitter.com/SslRdMjPAH
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) January 10, 2021
The New York Post reported that as hundreds of Antifa protesters marched through Midtown Manhattan, they chanted “Burn it down” as they passed an NYPD substation. The group marched from Central Park down to Madison Square Park.
The group was led by two dozen members carrying shields and wearing helmets. According to authorities, there were no reports of violence and no arrests made. Only Szczpanski and her online videos claimed any type of violence.
The Daily Mail reported that an Antifa group in New York claimed the march was an “anti-fascist victory” after few Trump supporters turned out to challenge them, saying that “MAGA and the Proud Boys didn’t show up because we mobilized.”
The New York City protest came a day after clashes between Trump supporters and Antifa protesters in San Diego. Reportedly, rocks, bottles, and eggs were thrown at police during what was declared an unlawful assembly.
Footage of the protest showed black-clad Antifa protesters throwing a folding chair and spraying a chemical irritant at another group of people on the Pacific Beach boardwalk.
Federal and state officials are said to be working together in all 50 states to monitor online chatter about efforts to organize protests that could lead to further violence in the days leading up to and including inauguration day.
Brian Harrell, former Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary said that he expects much more substantial security will be implemented prior to the inauguration. He said that the biggest threats to the event will be an active shooter scenario, vehicle ramming, and the deliberate targeting of critical infrastructure.
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