(RNS) — Jeffrey Grace, a resident of Battle Ground, Washington, charged in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, maintained in a recent post to his Our House USA YouTube channel that a militant response is necessary to push back against anti-fascist protesters.
That response, Grace suggested, might include throwing concrete, frozen water bottles and balloons filled with paint at antifa foes. “If someone is going to protect something,” he said, “I would hope that you have enough common sense to protect yourself so you could stand true to what you believe.”
Grace was among those providing security for religious gatherings held on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 7-8) at Portland, Oregon’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park, by faith leaders Artur Pawlowski, and Sean Feucht that resulted in clashes between left- and right-wing groups.
This week, federal prosecutors asked a U.S. district court to modify the terms of Grace’s release from jail while he awaits trial, requesting new restrictions that would forbid Grace from “possessing any firearms, weapons, or destructive devices.” They cited his appearance at Pawlowski’s event, claiming that he provided armed “perimeter security.” At Feucht’s speech the next day, the prosecutors say, he carried a chemical irritant and a wooden baton.
The presence of Grace and others have prompted grass-roots hate-watch groups to push for more information about Feucht’s security team, who he referred to as ex-military, ex-police “LOVERS OF JESUS.”
Locals who monitor hate groups said that they fear that the presence of conservative nationalists could invite more confrontations at future demonstrations.
Feucht, who couldn’t be reached for comment, shared a photo on Twitter Sunday in which he is flanked by men wearing military style vests and insignia. “If you mess with them or our 1st amendment right to worship God – you’ll meet Jesus one way or another,” Feucht wrote in the tweet.
Anti-fascist collectives such as Emerald Valley ARA and groups like Willamette Valley Hate Watch and Public Record and Data Archives Portland have been attempting to identify those seen volunteering as security personnel on the day of Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” gathering.
