#Boycottrogueweather

Greg Roberts runs Rogue Weather, a weather information website that's very popular here in the Rogue Valley region. Many like his Facebook page.

Roberts is also a right wing extremist and conspiracy theory hack. The image is of a recent post he made; it's not the first time he's spewed lies and advocated violence againy BLM supporters or alleged "Antifa."

He's also intimidated and threatened people who have challenged him . . . . a trait he shares with -- in my opinion -- another cyberbully and conspiracy crank, Ryan Mallory.

Boycott Rogue Weather. There are other local websites that offer better information and no right wing conspiracy theory woo woo.

And, the people running those websites are far better human beings.

#boycottrogueweather

Hawthorne Park's tent city faces eviction, some organize resistance

CHP director blasts bizarre rants and conspiracy theories 

By Brad Smith

MEDFORD, Ore. – After several days of rising tensions, a slew of wild allegations and conspiracy theories, campers harassed and intimidated, threats from alt-right groups and more displaced people showing up, the Hawthorne Park Mutual Aid (HPMA) Group is under siege.

Since the Almeda Fire blasted its way through the Rogue Valley and devastated parts of Ashland as well as laying waste to both Talent and Phoenix, scores of displaced people descended upon a section of the 20-acre park. In the past, a group called the Compassion Highway Project has helped transients and others who frequented the park. Since the fires, the all-volunteer Hawthorne Park Mutual Aid stepped up and started helping a growing tent city of displaced people – some lost there their homes and others were camped along the Bear Creek Greenway.

CHP executive director Melissa Mayne first claimed that a donation meant for her organization was taken by the HPMA. Then, Mayne got upset that Black Lives Matter signs were scattered throughout the tent city.

Mayne then took to social media and issued a bizarre, seemingly unhinged rant in which she claimed Antifa groups were bussing people from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and other places – for some nefarious scheme. She also claimed that she had received threats from unknown individuals.

Meantime, alt-right individuals such as minor radio personality Bill Meyer, and Greg Roberts, who runs RogueWeather.com and has been known to threaten violence against BLM protesters, have perpetuated conspiracy theories that Antifa arsonists have infiltrated the region.

Meantime, the tent city has grown and the HPMA volunteers have been providing people with meals, medical aid, laundry facilities and, basically, a safe place to stay.

Clarence Carr said, despite claims to the contrary, some of the displaced people did lose homes.

“Sure, some of them lost places to live,” he said. “Others lost their camps along the Greenway. No matter what, they lost something and deserve some help and basic human compassion. Just because they don’t have a house, then they don’t count. That’s bullshit.”

Sometime Sunday morning, Sept 20, Medford Police Dept. officers went through the park and handed out orange sheets of paper – eviction notices that gave the campers a week’s notice to leave. As Carr and others attempted to rally support, MPD officers dropped another bombshell early Monday morning, Sept 21.

Officers again swept through the tent city, this time handing out new eviction orders that gave campers 24 hours to vacate Hawthorne Park. One reason MPD officers gave for the sudden change was a “typographical error.” Then, officers stated that “due to unsanitary conditions,” the evictions had to be ramped up.

“It’s fucked up,” Carr said. “These people are here because they have no where else to go. And, this whole thing with (Mayne) is nonsense too. No one here has taken a single thing away from her CHP. Not one fucking thing. No food, no clothes and especially no cash. That hasn’t happened.”

While Mayne, the MPD and a number of Facebook commenters have claimed the tent city campers never lost homes in the fire, that isn’t true. One man calling himself Bryant had been living close to the Rogue Valley Manor when the fires hit.

“I was renting a room from friends,” he said. “We were told to leave, and we did. I threw what I could in my car and left. It wasn’t much but I lost things important to me when that happened. I heard people were coming here and I wanted to check it out. I have a place to sleep, food, and I can get my clothes cleaned. Not many places offer that.”

Carr said that things have been calm at the tent city.

“If someone has a problem with someone else, they work it out,” he said. “We’ve been lucky, but I think folks here know they’re safer here than being on the streets somewhere.”

Early Monday night, MPD released this statement:

Today, our Livability Team conducted a resource fair in an effort to connect individuals in Hawthorne Park with services, and provide information regarding available shelters throughout the Rogue Valley.

Participating agencies included Jackson County Mental Health, Rogue Retreat (Kelly Shelter, Hope Village, Urban Campground), Men’s and Women’s Gospel Mission, and La Clinica.

Transportation was offered and utilized by individuals at the park throughout the day to local shelter locations and La Clinica.

Hawthorne Park resource connections made:

•34 people connected with Rogue Retreat.

•2 people were taken to the Expo.

•36 people were contacted and eligible to go to Rogue Retreat but did not accept the services.

The current health and sanitary conditions of Hawthorne Park warrant an immediate closure of the unauthorized urban campground. A public notice of illegal camping was posted throughout the park today to notify individuals they must vacate the area no later than tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22.

When asked about the 8 a.m. Sept. 22 eviction deadline, Carr said he wasn’t going.

“If we have to make a stand, we’ll do it here,” he said. “Here’s the reality: Most of these people would still be here even if the HPMA wasn’t around. They come here anyway. It happens. They’re here in this part of the park because there’s not a playground. They keep to themselves here. Right now, they can get some food, help and other things. That makes a difference.”

Carr said that if some of the campers are arrested Tuesday morning, they’d be released later on and, eventually, find their way back to the park.

“That’s how it’s going to play out,” he said. “If the city doesn’t like it, then, they’d better step up with a real plan to help these people rather than some token touchy feely piss poor PR stunt.”

 The Rogue Free Press attempted to contact Melissa Mayne and discuss the bizarre claims she has made.

Ms. Maynes never responded.

D.A. refuses to prosecute assault case, victim made to look like the aggressor

By

Brad Smith

Assault victim raises questions about D.A.'s decision

 

Pictured here is Amanda Rose's assailant, William Henry Morgan. This picture was taken by Rose after Morgan shoved her twice and hit her in the face with a flagpole.

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. -- The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office will not be pursuing charges in the Aug. 29 assault that happened during the Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equality (SOEquity) rally held in Rogue River.

Deputy DA Kelly Hager was assigned to the case. In a press release issued on Sept. 18, the D.A.’s Office said: 

“After thorough review of the evidence collected by the Rogue River Police Department concerning an altercation in Rogue River at a Black Lives Matter rally on Aug. 29, 2020, no criminal charges for Harassment ORS 166.065 and/or Assault in the Fourth Degree ORS 163.160 will be filed. There is insufficient evidence to support proof beyond a reasonable doubt William Morgan intended to harass or annoy Amanda Rose when he pushed her away from him, or that he recklessly caused her physical injury.

“On Aug. 29, 2020, there was a Black Lives Matter rally in Rogue River as well as a counter-protest. Rogue River Police Chief Curtis Whipple and multiple other officers were working during the event and had their body cameras on. William Morgan was standing on the side of Broadway Street with his wife and friend. Amanda Rose came and stood next to him with her arm held high and her hand in a fist. They stood this way for some time. At one point, Amanda Rose leaned closer to William Morgan and yelled "Black Lives Matter!" When Ms. Rose yelled, she was less than a foot away from Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan shoved Ms. Rose away with his forearm, Ms. Rose stepped towards Mr. Morgan again and yelled "Black Lives Matter!" Mr. Morgan shoved Ms. Rose away with his forearm a second time. At this point Chief Whipple and Officer Brent Miller of the Rogue River Police Department intervened and split up the parties. 

“This incident was recorded by Chief Whipple and Officer Miller's body worn cameras. After extensive review from both sources, the District Attorney's Office determined the state could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt Mr. Morgan was intending to harass or annoy Ms. Rose when he shoved her. Instead, the evidence showed Mr. Morgan appeared to be responding to Ms. Rose being in his personal space and yelling in his face. It is also clear any injury resulting from that shove to the shoulder does not meet the legal definition of physical injury in that it did not cause substantial pain or impair Ms. Rose's physical condition. Mr. Morgan's actions do not rise to the level of criminal conduct.”

 The press release was promptly picked up by local media outlets – which they ran without contacting either parties. Rose was angered by the press release’s tone.

 “To me, the press release reads as a defense of (Morgan’s) assault on me,” she said. “Whipple's video that I watched showed the part where I had moved forward. I'm guessing the other video shows what you interpret as me ‘leaning in’ to yell in his face? And all this misses when he hit me in the mouth with his fist holding his flagpole?

“It seems like there was a push to frame the incident as him just pushing me but never once was it brought up that he had hit me in the mouth – even though that's the report I gave,” she said. “Why is this all missing? It's not subjective. It happened. In the video, Whipple even approaches Morgan after he takes my report then tells him that I have a bloody mouth. Whipple told (Morgan) he’s going to have to leave or he'll be arrested. Again, why is this missing from the D.A.’s press release and their decision?”

Rose had been at the rally for nearly an hour when Morgan attacked her. As the SOEquity event started, Rose said the counter protesters -- a mix of both local and out of town instigators and white nationalists -- were ramping up their rhetoric.

“It was bad. There was a lot of yelling and screaming. People drove pickups and motorcycles up and down the street,” she said. “It was getting heated. I stood between counter protesters and Clarence Carr, who was visibly upset and was being harassed by the cops. I did that as the cops surrounded him. There was an older man with a flagpole was right there. He was very upset. An older man. Like I said, he was very angry.”

She felt a deescalation was necessary. She placed herself between Carr and the counter protesters – including a woman accompanying Morgan.

“I just wanted to keep the peace and calm down the situation,” Rose said. “I’ve done it before -- so I put my body between him and them. (Carr) was terribly upset.”

As Rose stood between Carr and the counter protesters, the crowd chanted “Black lives matter!” She held up a fist and said the same thing. That’s when Morgan got angrier, she claimed.

“‘Put your fucking fist down, you fucking piece of shit’ – that’s what he said to me,” Rose recalled. Morgan shoved her twice and then hit her in the mouth with the flagpole.

Whipple and other police officers were nearby, Rose said.

“I said, ‘Can any of you do anything?’ and they moved me away from the street,” she said. “Whipple gave me a case number and I asked if they could have him leave.”

Whipple never offered her medical aid.

“He took pictures of my face and didn’t say a lot,” she said. “My lips were bruised and swollen. He seemed brusque and distant. All the cops acted like that.”

Rose said she kept seeing her alleged assailant during the rest of the protest. “I took a couple of pictures of him,” she said. “He really got angry when I did that.”

Rose has been frustrated with Whipple – along with her husband.

“He’s called Whipple three or four times -- no response. My kids ask me if the police are ever going to do anything,” she said. “I don't know what to do.”

Rose’s husband was assured by an RRPD employee that Whipple received all the messages but apparently didn’t have the time to return them, she said.

But Whipple did have the time to appear on a TV news segment and talk about the rally. As one former Rogue River resident said about the news segment, “It was classic Whipple: ‘You know we were really prepared and I think it went as well as it could. Pat me on the back please.’ Curtis thrives on praise.”

SOEquity president Kayla Marie Wade posted this on her Facebook account after the D.A.’s decision was released:

I guarantee you if it were the other way around. If a “patriot” was screaming in one of our protestor's face (and likely screaming much more violent and threatening things than simply stating the fact that "Black Lives Matter"), and one of our protestors shoved them out of the way, charges would have been pressed. That's all I have to say for now.

Welcome to the 21^st Century.

With the resurgence of racial and social injustice, it looks more like the 1950s.

The Rogue Free Press attempted to contact William Morgan but was unable to do so.

 

Facebook scanner groups and alt-right conspiracy theorists push hoaxes, misinformation

Despite statements from both local and federal law enforcement, social media's lunatic fringe rant and rave

By Brad Smith

ASHLAND, Ore. – No – Antifa “domestic terrorists” aren’t behind the Almeda Drive Fire or the other fires in the region.

The rumors started on early Sept. 9, the day after the fires started. Many took to social media, claiming that “Antifa” were setting the devastating fires and some had even been ARRESTED. Their source for that information?

Facebook scanner groups.

Yes. Scanner groups. If one wants to spread hoaxes and misinformation, Facebook scanner groups are the perfect place for that sort of thing. It wasn’t long before people were repeating fake scanner group postings about Antifa arsonists and, making things worse, someone created a post mimicking a Medford Police Dept. press release: It was about some Antifa arrested for arson.

MPD later released a statement on social media and debunked the post.

It hasn’t been easy for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, either.

According to public information officer Mike Moran, the JCSO has been hit with a tsunami of calls and emails from a concerned public. The Rogue Free Press asked if there was any evidence linking Antifa or other extremists to the fires. Moran responded with this email:

We have had so many totally groundless reports of the fires being connected to extremist groups. It is a ridiculous fabrication that is causing extra work for people and is causing undue anxiety and concerns for citizens.

 

Every day there is some totally made up meme or un-attributed headline posted on social media by someone that has no firsthand knowledge of anything to do with the investigations.

 

If there were such info it would be posted on legitimate government sites. There is no evidence of this to answer your question.

 

Along with the JCSO and MPD, the FBI even issued a press release saying that they saw no evidence linking Antifa to the fires. Beth Ann Steele, of the Bureau’s Portland office, said in a statement:

FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon. With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away from local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control. Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources.

However, despite the numerous statements from both local and federal law enforcement agencies, there are still some people in denial that cling to their hoaxes and debunked conspiracy theory rants. It has gotten so bad that armed vigilantes have setup roadblocks and checkpoints, threatening innocent drivers. In one incident that happened last week in Clackamas, alt-right vigilantes stopped an Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter and told them to leave immediately.

There has been one alleged arsonist arrested. Michael Jarrold Bakkela, 41, a transient, was arrested on Sept. 8 after a Phoenix resident called 911, reporting that a man set a fire behind their Quail Lane residence. Bakkela had a Sept. 14 court appearance and entered a not guilty plea. He is currently held at the Jackson County Jail, charged with first-degree arson and multiple counts of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. His bail has been set at $5 million.

Bakkela’s criminal record includes unlawful use of a motor vehicle, drug possession, felony possession of a weapon and other charges. However, he had no history of arson and again, no evidence of an Antifa affiliation. Local alt-right demagogue Bill Meyer said (Bakkela) was one of those “Anarchist Cookbook types” – but offered no other evidence.

A number of people have been arrested for looting, but none have links to extremist groups.

Meantime, groups nominally accused of being Antifa or “violent” BLM supporters can be found at Medford’s Hawthorne Park, feeding the homeless and those recently displaced by the fires. They prepare and serve meals, provide those in need with essential supplies and help people.

That’s a stark contrast to paranoid and delusional alt-right vigilantes running illegal roadblocks and intimidating innocent people.

Fire Rumors And Conspiracy Theories Push By White Nationalists And Other Alt-Right

 An upcoming article will focus on the rumors and conspiracy theories alt-right extremists are spreading about the fires. Here in Southern Oregon -- well, the entire state -- law enforcement agencies are busy debunking claims that Antifa and "BLM groups" are behind the recent fires devastating Oregon and elsewhere.

It's not true.

More to follow . . . .

On The Front Lines Of AmeriKKKa: The Fight For Justice -- Part One

SOEquity holds its own against local white nationalists

This is a first in a series of articles about the fight for both racial and social justice here in Southern Oregon

One of the many white nationalists who attempted to shut down the SOEquity protest last Saturday.

By Brad Smith

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- A group of peaceful protestors were met with local white nationalists last Saturday in Rogue River -- and despite threats of violence from the latter, the protesters walked away with some victories.

Originally, the Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity (SOEquity) had planned a march from Rogue River’s city hall to Palmerton Park, followed by a family-friendly barbecue. You Are Enough, the event’s name, was meant to be a place where people could  talk about their experiences with racism. SOEquity vice president Dominique Toyer said neither actions didn’t require permits and were protected by the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble.

“The City of Rogue River reached out to SOEquity requesting that we apply for permits for this event regardless,” a SOEquity press release stated. “As our primary goal is education and we have no desire to provoke conflict, we agreed to fill out the permits and pay the corresponding fees. Despite this good faith effort, the City of Rogue River denied our park reservation request and parade permit stating that the Palmerton Park Pavilion had already been reserved and that they did not have the manpower to allow for us to march in the streets. They requested that we stay on the sidewalks and added that we were still welcome to gather in another area of Palmerton Park. We agreed to abide by these requests.”

It turned out a group calling themselves the “Rogue River Patriots” had filed for permits to use the park pavilion. On Aug. 20, Chas Elliot of the patriot group made the necessary payments and deposits and signed for the permit. He refused to speak with The Rogue Free Press.

The Rogue River Patriots had a Facebook page up but it has now been taken down. On it, member William Yoakum posted, “Is there a bag limit and size limit BLM.” The group’s administrator Jinny Neiswanger said, “People who don’t belong squeeze in . . . . They get removed just as quickly.”

For all of Neiswanger's rants about "outsiders" coming to Rogue River and causing problems -- Yoakum is from California. It's not known if he was removed from the group, since Neiswanger refused to answer simple questions or provide evidence for her outlandish claims of "terrorist activity."

Another screenshot from the group read:

RR POLICE DEPARTMENT: REQUESTED WE “HANG BACK” AND FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. DO NOT PROVOKE PROTESTORS – THEY’LL BE WATCHING FOR PROVOCATIONS FROM THE PROTESTORS AND ACTING ON OUR BEHALF

Neiswanger denied any sort of collusion and said, “We did not have contact with our police. These were notes copied from another group from another area. Our PD asked us to keep it peaceful.”

Neiswanger said she didn’t know which group the notes were copied from.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet,” RRPD Chief Curtis Whipple said. “Nothing like that happened.”

After some head-butting with the Rogue River city leaders, SOEquity reached out to the Evans Valley Community Center. There was an agreement for SOEquity to hold their cookout at the community center -- however, that deal was called off, due to threats received by the EVCC.

“I just wanted ‘You Are Enough’ to be a cookout and a community gathering,” Toyer said. “There were a lot of lies and misconceptions out there about us. And, we were there because some people asked for our help. I just wanted to have some good food, share stories from biracial kids and enjoy music.

“That’s all we wanted.”

Instead, local social media exploded into a toxic waste of threats, wild claims of rioting and looting and calls from so-called “patriots,” i.e., white nationalists, to “defend the city."

Despite being shut out from both the park and the EVCC, Toyer and the rest of SOEquity were determined to do something.

“We decided to have a protest,” Toyer said. “No matter what, our voices would be heard.”

====================

Amanda Rose, along with her doula partner Jen Hook, worked in the Rogue River area for over three years. She had been following the story about the planned “You Are Enough” event and decided to attend the rally.

“I wanted to be there and show my support,” she said.

Rose said she arrived around 9:45 a.m. Saturday. People were gathering on both sides -- the ones with guns made her nervous.

The sight of Confederate battle flags and other racist symbols didn't help, either.

“I knew there would be some armed counter protesters. I’ve dealt with them at other rallies,” she said. “It just seemed different, a different energy from these people.”

Rose soon found herself standing by an older woman, who was a counter protester. Rose smiled and asked how the woman was doing.

“How much are you getting paid to be here?” the woman asked. A common myth among the alt-right is that protesters are paid by George Soros, the alt-right’s bogeyman.

Rose smiled but didn’t say a thing.

“I figured it’d be a crazy day,” she said.

More than an hour after arriving, Rose found herself assaulted by a counter protester as she was standing between Clarence Carr, a fellow protester, and a crowd of angry white nationalists. She was given a case number from Whipple and watched on as he didn’t ask her alleged assailant to leave.

As of press time Thursday, Whipple hasn’t returned her husband’s calls about the supposed investigation. He did, however, have enough time for a TV interview and talk about how well his department was prepared for the protest.

Taking a lone assault suspect, however, was still apparently problematic. A Grants Pass police officer would later tell Rose that arresting suspects could have "caused issues" for law enforcement.

====================

The SOEquity protesters and the white nationalists were in a heated exchange of words as the day went on.

None of the SOEquity protesters were armed -- the same couldn’t be said for the white nationalists across the street.

Many of the counter protesters were armed with pistols, assault rifles and shotguns. Some even had tactical vests and body armor. Rose claimed there was another group of armed militants standing apart from the main group of white nationalists.

“One of them said they were there to ‘keep the peace,” she said. “There was one thing that struck me as being odd: They kept making fun of the counter protesters in front of the community center. It seemed like they weren’t impressed by (the counter protesters).”

While the SOEquity protesters were unarmed, someone armed with a rifle did join them for a brief time. A young man wearing a black cowboy hat and hooded sweatshirt, he called himself “Sam.” Armed with a semi auto rifle, one of the protesters said “Sam” was there because “he didn’t like cops.”

“He just came over and talked with some folks. His rifle made some of the older protesters nervous but he was friendly enough. Didn't stay long,” a protester said. “He struck me as more just a kid who wanted to see what the commotion was or have an excuse to open carry than particularly ideologically motivated.”

Emily Mann, a SOEquity member and social media manager, reported that there were several instances of white nationalists rushing across the street and challenging protesters.

“Cops and our own deescalation teams would jump in and send them back to the main group,” she said. “We kept our people from engaging -- from the very beginning, we meant to be peaceful and we kept it that way.”

Not so much with the white nationalists.

As Toyer and others tried to speak, revving motorcycle engines would drown them out.

Mann said the racial slurs were “horrible.”

The slurs can be heard on several video  feeds from the protests:

“Get the fuck out of our town, n---ers!”

“Go back to fucking Africa!”

“Black Lives Splatter!”

Neiswanger claimed there is a video of a SOEquity protester making threats. When asked to produce the video, she couldn’t and said “it’s on the Internet.”

To date, no such video has appeared.

A number of counter protesters waved signs with white supremacist and anti-Semitic messages. Steven Essig, a protester who was videoing on livestream, walked over to the other side.

“It was pretty easy,” he said. “I had my mask on and kept my head down. What I saw was disturbing.”

Essig’s footage shows a counter protester flashing two signs -- Whites built the West #whitelivesmatter and 78% of American slave owners were ethnic Jews -- and others around him cheered and clapped.

“They were fine with the signs, their messages,” he said. “No one told him to stop or to go away. I was horrified. Disgusted.”

However, not all Rogue River residents were rude and violent to the SOEquity protesters.

Toyer said that she and her group met with a number of residents who were “very happy” SOEquity was there.

“We talked, they asked us questions, we laughed and sang ‘This Land is Your Land,’” she said. “I even told them jokes and stories about my dad. They asked us to come back and some even gave us donations.  It was a truly important, uplifting moment for us. Yes. We’ll be coming back.”

Sometime after 2 p.m., police had both the SOEquity people and the white nationalists leave. Videos have been posted of a touring bus being escorted out of Rogue River by both sheriff’s deputies and Medford Police Dept. officers -- followed by civilian bikers.

SOEquity’s president, Kayla Marie Wade, put this post on their Facebook page: 

“. . . . We held a nonviolent protest in front of Rogue River City Hall after countless, organized efforts to suppress and silence a family-friendly barbecue for people of color were successful. When we arrived at City Hall, the opposite side of the street was already lined with a group of people who were angry and showed it.

“They were yelling obscenities, holding signs with white supremacist messages, revving their motorcycle engines in a direct attempt to drown out our message of equality and acceptance. We stood our ground and reminded OUR community that we were not there to fight. We were not there to engage with the hate being thrown at us. It was difficult. Because we are angry too. We’re just not allowed to show it.

For four hours, I watched multiple members of this so-called “patriot” group walk across the street to try to start a physical altercation. They yelled direct threats of violence to me and my fellow Black leaders when we spoke. I cried multiple times. At one point I just folded over and screamed at the sidewalk in frustration. But, I never screamed at them.

“I am proud that our supporters were able to maintain a semblance of peace. After the event, one of the Grants Pass police officers who was on duty due to the threat of violence against our group came up and thanked me, saying it was clear who the instigators were today. I hope the rest of the officers, who seemed a lot more indifferent to the clear messages of hate being spewed at our group, felt the same way.

A lot of good came out of yesterday’s event. We received an outpour of positive messages online and monetary donations that will allow for us to better serve our community as we move forward. Many Rogue River residents came up to personally thank me for organizing the event, saying they are glad a stand against hate was finally being made in their town. At the end of the event, a woman of color who lives in Rogue River stayed to introduce herself to me. She was thankful we took the time to help residents who look like her feel a little less alone. That final moment made it all worth it to me.”

However, on Sunday morning, the EVCC was reportedly vandalized -- and more upheaval followed.

To be continued.

Emily Mann also contributed to the article. Thank you very much for the information you provided.

Please watch at the 13:00 mark.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pdxhalospace/permalink/338716180843332/?__cft__[0]=AZWVC4xSs7fOcjD9xHFFgG3hkg3Jba7gARVYsFveE18g-85Q68XRSk-GRZqzKDz1-CwwvAivOy_4sNWKbf6FVVE-zt2d2IPA8ezhBDjDZmFHkOe-hg5h_lpuAUiZ61A1TGF4s4G6b1XPg6bjQl89JZbV5CbaZJayYbnsqPELy01Piw&__tn__=-UK-R

Woman Assaulted By Violent Instigator At Saturday Protest

Victim frustrated by 'lack of action,' she feels

 This is picture of the man Amanda Rose claimed who assaulted her during the Aug. 29 protest. Rose took a number of pictures of him, including the one.

By Emily Mann & Brad Smith

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- A young woman was allegedly assaulted by a counter protester during a Saturday rally held in Rogue River.

Amanda Rose was attacked by a man during a protest -- the alleged assailant struck her in the mouth with a flag pole. “I was one of the first people to arrive,” she said. “It was around 9:45 a.m. when I got there. An hour later, I was assaulted.”

Rose had heard about SOEquity’s “You Are Enough” event because social and racial justice issues “are important to me.” While the scheduled cookout was canceled, Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equality members pushed ahead with a protest rally. She decided to join the rally.

“I know Rogue River very well,” she said. “I would say Jen Hook and I have worked together for three years.  She has been a doula for a very long time, is well-loved and has given so much to her community. Jen’s been in the area for some time and saw how things were getting bad. We talked about it from time to time. I felt it was the right thing to do, being there and protesting. I was upset at how SOEquity was treated -- it wasn’t right.”

As the SOEquity event started, Rose said the counter protesters -- a mix of both local and out of town instigators and white nationalists -- were ramping up their rhetoric.

“It was bad. There was a lot of yelling and screaming. People drove pickups and motorcycles up and down the street,” she  said. “It was getting heated. I stood between counter protesters and Clarence Carr, who was visibly upset and was being harassed by the cops. I did that as the cops surrounded him. There was an older man with a flagpole was right there. He was very upset. An older man. Like I said, he was very angry.”

She felt a deescalation was necessary. She placed herself between Carr and the counter protesters.

“I just wanted to keep the peace and calm down the situation,” Rose said. “I’ve done it before -- so I put my body between him and them. (Carr) was very upset.

As Rose stood between Carr and the counter protesters, the crowd chanted “Black lives matter!” She held up a fist and said the same thing.

That’s when the older man with the flag got angrier, she claimed.

“‘Put your fucking fist down, you fucking piece of shit’ -- that’s what he said to me,” Rose recalled.

Rose stated that the man shoved her twice and then hit her in the mouth with the flag pole.

Rogue River Police Dept. Chief Curtis Whipple and other police officers were nearby, Rose said.

“I said, ‘Can any of you do anything?’ and they moved me away from the street,” she said. “Whipple gave me a case number and I asked if they could have him leave.”

Rose said Whipple and some other officers made contact with the alleged assailant. She claimed Whipple told the man, “We’ll watch the (body cam) footage and then we’ll know what happened.”

The man, she said, went on his way.

Whipple never offered her medical aid.

“He took pictures of my face and didn’t say a lot,” she said. “My lips were bruised and swollen. He seemed brusque and distant. All the cops did. I asked him if I could see the body cam footage. He said it might be another week or so before he would get it.”

Rose said she kept seeing her alleged assailant during the rest of the protest.

“I took a couple of pictures of him,” she said. “He really got angry when I did that.”

In other media reports, Whipple asked the alleged assailant's family members to watch him or he'd have to be removed.

Since Saturday, Rose has been frustrated -- along with her husband.

“He’s called Whipple three or four times -- no response. My kids ask me if the police are ever going to do anything,” she said. “I don't know what to do.”

“I want to find out who this man is, I want to file charges,” Rose said. “I don’t know if I can trust the Rogue River cops.”

Before she left the protests, Rose said she’d spoken to a Grants Pass police officer -- Medford Police Dept. and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office personnel were also there to help --  and the response upset her.

“I asked the officer why the man wasn’t arrested,” she said. “They said, ‘It was decided not to arrest anyone. It might cause a bigger problem.’”

“After hearing that and other things about the Rogue River police,” Rose said, “if at all possible, I wish someone else would handle my case. I can’t trust them.”

The Rogue Free Press emailed Whipple a number of times and requested the alleged assailant's name. There was no response.

UPDATE: As of press time Friday, Whipple still hasn't called Amanda Rose nor has he returned her husband's calls.

He did, however, have the time to appear on a local newscast . . . touting his "response" to the Saturday protest.

A few years ago, Curtis Whipple was the chief of the Talent Police Dept. He allowed an officer named Bill May to intimidate and harass citizens. Residents complained, as did city officials. Never was ever done about May's aggressive behavior.

Why he never took action -- who knows? What the RFP knows is this: A woman was assaulted and her alleged assailant was never taken into custody. In fact, he was allowed to roam the street -- allegedly under a family member's supervision.

Such behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable . . . yet it's enabled by a city council who's sorely out of touch with reality. It's the Rogue River "Good Ol' Boys Network" in action.

Amanda Rose deserves better.

UPDATE Friday: The Rogue Free Press contacted the DA's Office and learned Deputy DA Kelly Hager has been assigned to the case.

It should be noted that when one Rogue River resident was having problems with a racist neighbor, RRPD Officer Ty Darr did, according to the victim, went above and beyond to help them.

Emily Mann contributed to the article. She was at the protest and made contact with Amanda Rose. Rose later contacted The Rogue Free Press.

Rogue River & Wimer Cave To Their Racist, Violent Residents

A public statement from SOEquity regarding their Aug. 29 event in Rogue River. The screenshots this statement refers to can be found in the PDF version of the statement on our website: www.soequity.org/you-are-enough

PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM SOUTHERN OREGON COALITION FOR RACIAL EQUITY

Earlier this month, the Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity (hereby referred to as SOEquity) announced we would be holding a community event and march in Rogue River, Oregon on Saturday, August 29, 2020 titled You Are Enough. The goal of this event was to provide a space for residents of Rogue River, especially young people of color, to share their experiences and educate the community on systemic racism. The original itinerary was to lawfully gather in front of Rogue River City Hall and collectively march to the nearby Palmerton Park, where a family-friendly barbecue would take place.

Both actions do not require permits and are protected by the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble. The City of Rogue River reached out to SOEquity requesting that we apply for permits for this event regardless. As our primary goal is education and we have no desire to provoke conflict, we agreed to fill out the permits and pay the corresponding fees. Despite this good faith effort, the City of Rogue River denied our park reservation request and parade permit stating that the Palmerton Park Pavilion had already been reserved and that they did not have the manpower to allow for us to march in the streets. They requested that we stay on the sidewalks and added that we were still welcome to gather in another area of Palmerton Park. We agreed to abide by these requests.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, we learned that a group known as the “Rogue River Patriots” had reserved the Palmerton Park Pavilion. Based on screenshots from their Facebook group, they did so with the express intent of disrupting the You Are Enough event and silencing the voices of their fellow residents. The screenshots shared with SOEquity also state that the Rogue River Patriots were working directly with the Rogue River Police Department. Specifically, one post by a group admin says:

RR POLICE DEPARTMENT: REQUESTED WE “HANG BACK” AND FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. DO NOT PROVOKE PROTESTORS – THEY’LL BE WATCHING FOR PROVOCATIONS FROM THE PROTESTORS AND ACTING ON OUR BEHALF

Based on this knowledge and screenshots of violent threats from other Rogue River residents, SOEquity looked for an alternative location to protect the integrity of the event and the safety of its participants. Two of our organizers reached out to a Board Member of the Evans Valley Community Center as we believed their values aligned with those of our event and they had previously hosted events with a similar structure of community dialogue, food and music. Their website states: “Evans Valley Community Association is a community-focused organization dedicated to fostering participation in education, arts, agriculture, recreation, civic and social activities for all ages.” 

As the You Are Enough event was educational in nature and promoted civic engagement, the Evans Valley Community Association agreed to host the event. One of our organizers went to the Community Center to pay the rental fee and sign the Facilities Use Agreement on August 27, 2020. 

On the morning of August 28, 2020, SOEquity Vice President, Dominique Toyer received an unsolicited phone call from Rogue River Police Chief Whipple asking about the details of the You Are Enough event. Ms. Toyer explained that the event had been moved to a private event space for security reasons. 

After confirming we were permitted to use the Evans Valley Community Center, we announced the change in location later in the day on August 28, 2020. Just a few hours after this announcement, one of our organizers received a message from an Evans Valley Community Association Board Member that the Board had voted to revoke SOEquity’s rental agreement. The statement announced the event as cancelled (which the Evans Valley Community Association never confirmed with SOEquity) stating that “this event is not a good fit for the Rogue River/Wimer community.”

With this timeline and the multiple attempts to prevent a community barbecue from happening, the City of Rogue River, its community members and its leaders have sent a clear message: supporting people of color is not permitted in Rogue River.

Since these events, SOEquity organizers have received screenshots of further threats of violence and attempts to publicly identify our leaders to opposition groups for intimidation purposes. All of these screenshots are included in this statement.

The Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity is not a hate group. We are an organization of community members working to improve and educate our community and remove racist systems that allow for discrimination and oppression of community members of color to occur. The fact that we want to engage in a discussion around race is apparently so radical to the residents of Rogue River that they have effectively prevented a family-friendly barbecue from occurring. Make no mistake. The only threats of violence and calls for escalation and unsafe actions were from community members who oppose the very existence of a group dedicated to promoting racial equity. That is racism. 

While the community barbecue portion of our You Are Enough event has been postponed, we are still calling on our members and the residents of Rogue River who believe that equality will prevail over hate to gather lawfully and nonviolently in front of Rogue River City Hall at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 29, 2020. We will stand with a clear message: being Black and promoting equality should not be controversial.

Questions can be sent to Kayla Wade, Founder and President of the Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity at southernoregonequity@gmail.com.

'You Are Enough' event goes forward despite racist Rogue River residents

SOEquity changed plans after threats from RR racists 

By Brad Smith

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- The location of Saturday's ‘You Are Enough’ event has been changed due to concerns over safety.

Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equality (SOEquity) vice-president Dominique Toyer said the Aug. 29 march and event was meant to promote racial justice and equity. The plan was to have participants meet at the Rogue River city hall offices on Broadway Street around 10 a.m. The plan was to have the march move through town and finish at Palmerton Park, she said.

“From the very beginning, it was planned to be peaceful and focusing on how racism affects children and young people of color in rural towns,” Toyer said. “After the march, we planned for a barbeque and an open mic available for anyone wanting to share their experiences. A family-friendly event shedding light on racism in smaller towns. The reality is that small, rural towns often have less diversity than bigger cities and racism is prevalent.”

Earlier this month, Toyer addressed the Rogue River city council about the issue of racism in their community.

Rogue River does have a problem. For example:

• Joe McPherson is a business owner, The Double R Pub. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, McPherson has made a number of racial slurs such as “Kung Flu” or the “Asian Flu” on social media. He doubles down when confronted and others -- mainly Rogue River residents -- have defended him and repeated the very same slurs. Most echoed terms used by Trump.

• During a 2016 9/11 ceremony held by VFW Post 4116, now deceased member Chuck Spark said that if anyone took a knee during the event, there would be “trouble.” Especially if they acted like that "Black SOB Colin Kaepernick." During a conversation with Mark Poling -- VFW member and city councilor -- Kaepernick’s name was mentioned. Another VFW member overheard the conversation and said, “Kaepernick -- where’s the goddamned KKK when you need them the most?” Poling said nothing and laughed.

• *Diane Hawkins (name has been changed) said she was invited to have dinner with friends at the VFW. “This was when President Obama was in office. People were repeatedly saying the N-word, others talked about lynching (Obama) like they did to Blacks a long time ago and said a cross should be burned on the White House lawn. It was disgusting. I’ve never been back there. Filthy bigots.”

• Michael Vieira, a Rogue River resident, made social media comments on how no one is allowed to criticize “the Zionist Jews” and people like Mel Gibson have to apologize or else never work again.

• During a Rogue River planning commission meeting years ago, someone preparing a PowerPoint turned on her laptop and there was an image of her son on it, next to his bike. A Japanese motorcycle. One of the commissioners said, “Get rid of that goddamned Jap rice rocket.” Most laughed but no one rebuked the commissioner.

• For many years, a Rogue River church used its ad space in the Rogue River Press to run anti-Islamic diatribes. The congregation members never complained about the adverts nor did the readers. They continued until the pastor died.

Rogue River has a serious problem.

Which became evident as news of “You Are Enough” hit local social media. Residents like Steve Elyes and Emil Merusi railed that there would be “burning and looting.” Merusi joked about hitting people with a pickup and “healthcare worker” Penny Tolman posted an “All Lives Splatter” picture. Brian Campbell threatened in posts about showing up with weapons and wanted others to join him.

“I’m making potato salad and marinade for the meat. This is a family friendly event, it’s not some armed invasion. This is very frustrating,” Toyer said during a Facebook video post. “What the hell is wrong with some people? This is something for everyone and it's peaceful. That's all it is.”

 

Toyer said the city was very helpful throughout the permitting process. However, when Toyer and others dropped off the paperwork, they learned that others had rented areas of the park needed for the event.

 

“We decided to give it a try, staying at Palmerton,” she said. “But, the threats were still posting all across Facebook. Everyone in my group was bringing food. These assholes were bringing guns and threatening us. But, lately, that’s been the case.”

 

Medford. Coos Bay. Cave Junction. Medford again. Peaceful protesters have been met with hostility from right-wing extremists, so-called “patriots.” “Patriots” who stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with violent neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers such as Keith "Biome Michael" Erickson and Greg Marchese. It would seem that Southern Oregon's “patriots” are fine with neo-Nazis among their ranks.

 

That’s Trump's America. He said the right wing extremists in Charlottesville were very fine people -- even when one of them killed an innocent woman. Trump urged right wing extremists to “take back their states” after a number of governors initiated lockdown protocols when he failed to take action during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also used racist slurs regarding the virus -- something that local business owner Joe McPherson and other residents have done on social media.

 

And, they think it’s funny.

 

People in Rogue River are, well, brazenly racist and stupid about this event.

 

The local newspaper, The Rogue River Press, did an article on the event. An Amy Blair responded with this bizarre rant:

Ok I have a problem with your soequity article you say "she said that all of the people involved in the rally are from southern oregon, and none of will have a connection to either activities associated with Black Lives Matter in Portland or a rally in cave junction " if you visit their webpage they clearly tout themselves as Black Lives Matter.. it's on their homepage and they provide a white reading list... seems to me that this article makes it appear that this group has no ties to the BLM when clearly they do.

I'm just letting you know that your source provided you misleading information. Clearly on their page they are in support for the group. I'll be talking to our local police today to find out what their plans are as cities have been burned in the name if this group. I agree they are welcome to march or whatever because we are a welcoming community. But they shouldn't be providing misleading information regarding their affiliation. Smh.

As SOEquity prepares to move the event to another Rogue River location, Toyer said she’s not surprised nor disappointed.

“All those threats and other nasty comments we’ve received this past week -- it proved my point,” she said. “Rogue River has a serious racism problem and we’re continuing our work, opening dialogues with Southern Oregon communities. Educating. Forging an understanding between everyone. The racists in Rogue River haven’t stopped us. Not one bit.”