PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The owner of a Northeast Portland pub says Patriot Prayer and other groups have targeted him and his business for the last 2 years.
Abram Goldman-Armstrong, the owner of Cider Riot, filed a $1-million lawsuit last week against Patriot Prayer and its leader Joey Gibson, as well as 5 other alleged members of the far-right group and up to 25 more unnamed people.
Goldman-Armstrong claims the defendants went to Cider Riot at 807 Northeast Couch Street on May Day after rallies were held across the Portland area and assaulted customers by spraying them with pepper spray and throwing bricks at them.
The owner of the pub told KOIN 6 News he’s had enough.
“Gibson and his gang have been intimidating us for so long,” said Goldman-Armstrong. “I’m not going to take it anymore and hopefully if we make a stand we can remain open and remain being a safe and inclusive space for everyone in the community and hopefully get them to stop harassing other folks in Portland as well.”
KOIN 6 News reached out to Gibson for comment on the lawsuit.
“I didn’t break one law,” said Gibson. “I didn’t do anything that was illegal and Cider Riot’s going to be exposed for harboring groups like Rose City Antifa. I mean I sat there and got pepper-sprayed by their drunk customers who were on their property when I was on a public sidewalk and they never did anything to stop them.”
The leader of the Vancouver-based Patriot Prayer group said he held more than 50 rallies in Washington in 2018 and never once committed an act of violence.
He said he’s looking forward to going to court so he can hold Cider Riot accountable for allegedly making false claims.
Gibson added that he and others are considering filing a counter-suit.