New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler said in a video posted to social media that violence being committed by anarchists in Portland — often against federal agents deployed there to protect government buildings — is a “myth” circulating around Washington D.C.
“It is true, there’s violence across the whole country. Do you disavow violence from Antifa that’s happening in Portland right now?” Austen Fletcher, host of the “FleccasTalks” series, asked Nadler.
“That’s a myth that’s being spread only in Washington, D.C.,” Nadler responds.
“About Antifa in Portland?” the man pressed.
“Yes,” Nadler says as he is moved towards a waiting vehicle by a handler.
“Sir, there’s videos everywhere online, there’s fires and riots, they’re throwing fireworks at federal officers. DHS is there,” the man continues, a reference to the Department of Homeland Security.
“Look online,” the man implores. “That’s crazy, Mr. Nadler.”
Afterward, a woman says to Fletcher and another man with him, “Wow so…he thinks it’s fake news.”
“Antifa’s a myth,” the second man says.
“Yeah, Antifa’s a myth in Portland. Meanwhile, the whole city’s on fire and they’re trying to burn down the courthouse,” says Fletcher.
User “An0maly” posted that brief on-the-street encounter video with another in split-screen showing scenes of violence from Portland.
Video of the violence in Portland, though it may be confined to several blocks around the Hatfield Federal Courthouse, is certainly no myth, as evidenced by the hundreds of videos posted to social media by reporters on the ground including Andy Ngo.
In fact, AP reporter Mike Balsamo noted Sunday he spent a few days inside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse with “US Marshals” and reported: “Mortars were being fired off repeatedly, fireworks & flares shot into the lobby, frozen bottles, concrete, cans & bouncy balls regularly whizzed over the fence at high speeds.”
Folks on social media were equally baffled by Nadler’s claim.