Right Wing 'Terrorist' Convicted For Role In Portland Protests

Portland OR

05 October, 2021

10:24 PM

Description

PORTLAND, OR — Eleven times Alan Swinney heard a jury in Portland say that he was guilty of charges stemming from the violence that overtook the city in August 2020. Eleven times he heard a jury reject his argument that he'd driven more than 1,000 miles of Texas out of concern for Portland, that he was worried about the left wing activists who were "destroying the city." Swinney, a Proud Boy, said that he arrived in Portland, which was the site of nightly social justice protests, to show support for law enforcement because "everyone is coming down on them." Live in Portland? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. In his closing argument of the 6 day trial, Senior Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez asked jurors to reject Swinney's claim that he'd been in Portland to fight terrorists. "There was only one terrorist in Portland on those days," Vasquez told jurors. "And it was Alan Swinney. He came here with a six shooter so he could terrorize our social justice movement here in Portland. He is not a sheriff. He is not a lawman. He has no authority over the streets here in Portland. Prosecutors showed that Swinney shot a man in the face with a paintball gun. The man had been recording the melee between antifascist and right wing protesters on Aug. 15. Swinney testified that he'd actually been aiming for someone else. It wasn't the only time that Swinney's words might have played against him at trial. Prosecutors played a recording of Swinney made while he was in jail, referring to that videographer who had complained of lingering pain. "Too bad for him," Swinney can be heard saying. Another charge stemmed from Swinney shooting a woman with a paint gun. "Did she deserve to get shot with a paintball?" Swinney said. "Yeah. Am I glad? Yeah." When Swinney on the stand, he was asked why he had pulled a gun on the crowd, he replied that he had run out of mace and paintballs. A sentencing date has not been set.