Police arrest driver in Washington after witnesses claim he tried to run over antifa demonstrators with his truck


Police in Vancouver, Washington, arrested a driver who witnesses claim tried Sunday to run over antifascist demonstrators with his truck, KGW Portland reports. The man was ultimately not charged with a crime. Vancouver's "antifa" march had been organized as a counter-protest to a right-wing "Patriot Prayer" rally that was taking place in the city at the same time.
While no one was seriously injured, the incident in Vancouver seemingly parallels the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month, when a man drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters objecting to a white supremacist gathering, killing one person.
Willamette Week describes the scene:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A black Chevy Silverado with Oregon plates and two large American flags and several small flags hanging from its windows (along with a Confederate flag decal displayed on the back window of the cab) drove up to the marchers. It was driving slowly down a street flanked by people dressed in black bloc clothing.As the crowd parted to clear the way for the truck to move forward, protesters filled the street behind it and started throwing rocks and water bottles at the truck.The driver suddenly put his vehicle in reverse and accelerated toward the protesters. As he sped up, people jumped out of the street. [Willamette Week]
As the driver allegedly continued to intimidate marchers, revving his engine and "cutting [them] off," Vancouver police arrived on the scene and arrested the man behind the wheel, Willamette Week writes. A group of far-right "Proud Boys" responded to the arrest by driving down the street and pepper spraying the counter-protesters, witnesses claim.
Vancouver police say the truck driver "was not charged with a crime and has been released," KGW.com writes.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack