It seems like police in Seattle have given up protecting citizens while allowing the violent Antifa movement to have free rein.

At a downtown Seattle rally over the weekend, police appeared to have no problem with an Antifa protest, which reportedly had no permit to do so, blocking sidewalks and open carrying rifles. But as tensions escalated when independent journalist Andy Ngo became the target of threats by members of the anti-fascist movement, police informed him he was the one “inciting conflict.”

Okay. I moved away from the protest after being told that “death is coming.” #antifa — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 1, 2018

The Portland based video journalist and writer for Quillette was on hand to cover a scheduled and permitted rally by the Washington Three Percenters, which became the scene for a counter protest staged by red flag-toting Antifa, who had no permit. Ngo, who has been documenting the movement as well as the Portland and Seattle governments’ actions in response, chronicled the events as they unfolded.

Today, around 150 self-described anti-fascists protested a downtown Seattle rally by the Washington State 3 Percent, a conservative group that calls itself constitutionalist. Antifa proudly displayed the red flag of communism on their side. pic.twitter.com/5xLVWlpKgW — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

Despite being a member of the public, Ngo was apparently not going to be allowed to use the public sidewalk where the counter-protesters had swarmed.

“I don’t think we want to let you walk through,” a gun-toting man could be heard telling Ngo as he attempted to navigate the blocked sidewalk.

When I tried to walk to the street corner where antifa was demonstrating, two of their people with guns confronted me. pic.twitter.com/C5IrlnQqQ8 — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

An officer intervened to ask why they were not letting Ngo walk through but his passage was still blocked, as others worked to block his cellphone camera which was documenting the scene.

They surrounded me, and on cue, all of them took out their cameras to record. They pushed me and followed me when I tried to leave the area I was boxed in. One @SeattlePD officer tried to stand up for me. pic.twitter.com/ghJXoNQOqm — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

“He never said he was on either side and was simply trying to document it,” one police officer at the protest told Jason Rantz of KTTH. “Many in the protest were blocking his path and yelling at him or telling him he had to leave. They even went and played childish games by putting their hands about an inch in front of is face and said ‘I’m not touching you’ like a five year old would.”

Ngo noted how at one point he was up against a barrier as a woman screamed at him through a bullhorn, calling him a Nazi.

A woman screamed into a bullhorn in front of my face. I was pressed up against a barrier. She led the mob into called me a “Nazi.” It was so loud that I felt physical pain in my ear drums. pic.twitter.com/0C8Ny16nQH — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

In an amazing moment, Seattle police stepped in – but not to defend or protect Ngo who was not shouting, using a bullhorn or carrying a weapon. Instead the police force in the progressive city apparently sided with the thugs and informed NGO, a journalist reporting on an illegal protest as part of his job, that he was the one “inciting conflict” and would have to leave the public sidewalk.

This was a surreal moment: @SeattlePD officer came up and said I was “inciting conflict” and potential violence just by being there. If my physical presence in a public space makes someone else want to become violent, the problem is not with me. pic.twitter.com/08wM5KXwx0 — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

Even a death threat by one Antifa protester went unchallenged by police.

“I’m known to do this shit for real,” an antifa protester said to me. “Are you willing to die for Youtube shit?…Death is coming to you.” pic.twitter.com/bhK2wWkMBD — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

Ngo, who believes it is “important that the excesses of the far-left gets documented fairly & accurately,” uploaded more footage on YouTube which included the group saying they were harassing the journalist because he was recording.

I have uploaded the footage from yesterday’s Seattle protest on YouTube. It includes additional scenes, like when police asked why they were harassing me and they responded that it’s because I’m recording. https://t.co/nT11hniKSt — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 3, 2018

This work is difficult. It’s important that the excesses of the far-left gets documented fairly & accurately. Please join me as a supporter: https://t.co/5NWJzeYUce https://t.co/kgWOuuZOyA — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 3, 2018

Ngo also noted that the man issuing the death threat against him was arrested at another rally a few months back.

The man who made the possible death threat against me was arrested at another Seattle protest back in August. This news report doesn’t identify his full name but does show video of when he was taken into custody. https://t.co/Bc0yMNg7b0 — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 3, 2018

He also tweeted on Monday that one of the socialist groups involved in the weekend rally is staging an event in favor of allowing members of the Central American migrant caravan entry into the U.S.