Andy Ngo calls planned protests between Antifa and right-wing groups a ‘powder keg’

(Image: screenshot)

Journalist Andy Ngo doesn’t think Portland police are prepared to handle the potentially explosive confrontation between right-wing groups and so-called anti-fascists this weekend.

The conservative journalist, who was brutally attacked while covering a rally in Portland in June and said he sustained a brain injury during the assault, spoke with Fox News on Friday about the dueling protests planned for Saturday.

Injuries suffered by journalist Andy Ngo on June 29th

“I’m really concerned about the Antifa versus right-wing protest happening tomorrow. I think it has the potential to be a powder keg,” he said on “Fox & Friends.”

“In Portland, political violence is a banality now,” he added.

“However, the demonstrations are looming in the shadows of the recent mass shootings by the far-left and the far-right ideologues and their extremist elements who are broadcasting their desires for bloodshed,” Ngo said. “On top of that, police seem to be at a breaking point. They’re severely understaffed.”

“Don’t you trust the police to be able to keep the peace?” Steve Doocy asked.

“I wish I could, but as many of your viewers know, nearly seven weeks ago now I was beaten and robbed in daylight in the middle of Downtown Portland in the front of the police precinct by Antifa, and there still has not been a single arrest,” he said, referring to the attack that prompted Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to call for “legal action” against Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

In fact, reports ahead of the weekend’s planned protests have shown that Portland’s police have continued to arrest right-wing demonstrators while seeming to ignore outright acts of violence by those on the left.

“I don’t want to be cynical about the Portland police. I know that they’re working under a lot of political pressure because in Portland our mayor also doubles as police commissioner,” Ngo said. “There are a number of other variables at hand. I just hoped that by now the authorities and those in power have gotten their act together so we don’t see repeats of violence or potentially deadly violence tomorrow.”

The editor for Quillette went on to note the “stand-down atmosphere” by law enforcement in a city he described as “extremely anti-police” which also has “an odd political system” due to the mayor doubling as police commissioner.

“I think stand down atmosphere is not an overstatement,” he said.

“It’s from my perception, based on my coverage of the events over and over, that there may not be a vocal stand-down order but in practice, the policies that are outlined for police is basically stand down,” Ngo noted.

Yesterday Ngo tweeted video evidence of speakers at Portland Mayor & Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler’s PR event where a speaker defended & rationalized the violent actions of Antifa, & urged the city not to send police out in full force.

At yesterday's Ted Wheeler PR event ahead of the 17 Aug protest, a speaker defended & rationalized the violent actions of antifa, & urged the city not to send police out in full force. The event was organized to show that Portland denounces violence. https://t.co/QiVD6AP0Kb pic.twitter.com/YBgLsRYuhD

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 15, 2019