On March 12, Patriot Prayer member Donovon Flippo was arrested in connection with an assault in June of 2018. The 23-year-old Flippo is a co-defendent with Tusitala "Tiny" Toese, 22, both frequent participants in violent protest events involving the Vancouver, WA-based Patriot Prayer group. In addition to the raucous public brawls that often characterize Patriot Prayer's presence at protest events, members of the group have also been involved in fights and attacks away from the crowds, out in the neighborhoods of Portland and Vancouver.
Flippo and Toese allegedly attacked Tim Ledwith in Portland's Lloyd District on June 8, 2018, as they were driving through town in a pickup truck, waving a flag featuring Donald Trump's face and shouting at pedestrians. As Willamette Week reported in February, the Portland Police built a case against the two men for assault, but no action was taken by Multnomah County prosecutors until the day before WW's story went to press, nearly eight months later.
KBOO reporter Sam Bouman spoke with Ledwith on March 6, after a February 27 grand jury was held but before the three count indictments against Flippo and Toese were unsealed on March 12. The discussion covers the event on and surrounding the June 8 assault; Ledwith's reasons for involving police; the legal process; the repeated examples of Portland police deference to right-wing protesters and suspects; and the nature of anti-fascism.
The article by Umberto Eco mentioned without his name towards the end of the interview is "Ur-Fascism," which is available here.
A shorter version of this interview will air on "Totality of Circumstances" from 5:30 to 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 19, on KBOO.
This is not a version for air, and contains language some people may find offensive, and descriptions of violent and racist behavior.
- KBOO