Warning: This post contains graphic content

A demonstration billed as a march for "law and order" in the streets of Portland descended into chaos as rival political factions broke into bloody brawls downtown Saturday night.

Members of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer and their black-clad adversaries, known as antifa, used bear spray, bare fists and batons to thrash each other outside Kelly's Olympian, a popular bar on Southwest Washington Street.

The melee, which lasted more than a minute, ended when riot cops rushed in and fired pepper balls at the street fighters.

The Portland Police Bureau reported seeing protest and counter-protest participants outfitted with hard knuckle gloves, knives and firearms earlier in the evening. Police said they made no arrests Saturday night, but will continue to investigate.

The wild scene unfolded amid mounting tensions among both groups, fueled in part by a pair of national news stories.

A march in Portland against police brutality last week drew headlines after law enforcement's hands-off approach to the event was blamed for an encounter between protesters and an elderly driver, which outraged many, including Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson and his supporters.

On Friday, viral video surfaced showing members of the Proud Boys, a right-wing fraternal organization, beating two or three protesters in New York City after an event at the Republican Party headquarters.

It was against this backdrop that Gibson, who counts a number of Proud Boys among his ranks, organized the so-called "Flash march for Law and Order in PDX" — ostensibly to protest Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and his oversight of the city's police force.

Waving American flags and breaking into patriotic chants, Gibson and several dozen supporters set off to a street memorial for Patrick Kimmons, a 27-year-old black man shot and killed by police, an incident that prompted last week's march.

As they arrived at the vigil on Southwest Fourth Avenue and Harvey Milk Street, they were met by a large group of counter-demonstrators chanting "Black Lives Matter."

The two sides exchanged taunts and threats as police stood by and warned against physical confrontation.

About 20 minutes later, the violence erupted a few blocks away among a smaller group of the participants.

Below is a detailed timeline of events from the evening.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.:

Both sides continue to confront each other. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/UKtnsi1jvo — Lashay Wesley (@LashayKATU) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:38 p.m.:

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.:

Mace, violence & now police in riot gear arriving as demonstrators protest in Portland. (Near SW 4th & Washington.) #fox12 #portland @PortlandPolice pic.twitter.com/kGFx872NwQ — Bonnie Silkman KPTV (@BonnieSilkman) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.:

Tiny started pummeling a dude and then more ran up to stomp him out. Portland police in riot gear then ran up pic.twitter.com/rFAdnbSdDq — Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.:

Huge bloody brawl between Patriot Prayer deputy “Tiny” Toesse just happened. Didn’t get it on video. This is a crowd chasing after one of the combatants, whose face is drenched in blood. pic.twitter.com/DmksdG0zTM — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.:

Team Patriot Prayer licking wounds post rumble with antifa / antifascist activists, who unleashed pepper spray into the confrontation. pic.twitter.com/kwemkZkSsl — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.:

Huge brawl just happened and police came in to firenless lethal rounds on people. Right-wingers were clubbing people w clubs outside of Kelly’s Olympian, way worse than NYC last night. proud Boys and Patriot prayer and Antifa just had a huge wild fight pic.twitter.com/a750y2ai7J — Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:26 p.m.:

Mace and violence between the groups @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/K2kzjkAvrH — Sarah Hurwitz (@sehurwitz) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.:

The sound truck is announcing: pic.twitter.com/UAz3Dm6LA2 — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:23 p.m.:

Police now warning that they might use riot control agents. Police say they’ve seen “assaultive behavior” Riot cops in the street. Lots of coughing. pic.twitter.com/bi5FCY83nn — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.:

Full on rumble outside of Kelly’s Olympian. Tough to breathe. pic.twitter.com/UhgHeaOaaq — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.:

Confrontation between masked counter-demonstrators and Patriot Prayer members. Counter-demonstrators unleash a blast of pepper spray. pic.twitter.com/neUwup1Vxw — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:19 p.m.:

Group just pepper sprayed. This guy said it was Antifa. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/Vh54YuDUgB — Lashay Wesley (@LashayKATU) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:12 p.m.:

Moving south on SW 5th now. pic.twitter.com/wZNL7lGmeQ — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:09 p.m.:

The sound truck is announcing: pic.twitter.com/VQnUm99giJ — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:07 p.m.:

After a few tense moments, Patriot Prayer march has continued north of SW Fourth. Both sides still lobbing insults at each other. pic.twitter.com/a3ZVXYWSzl — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.:

Group of Patriot Prayer members with Joey Gibson just walked up to counter-protest with flowers they say they want to place at the Patrick Kimmons memorial. pic.twitter.com/VBTC3jRGSD — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:58 p.m.:

Large group of counter-demonstrators at corner of SW Fourth & Harvey Milk, where Patrick Kimmons, 27, was shot and killed by police. Chants of “Black Lives Matter.” Riot cops standing by. One cop says: “They’re essentially just screaming at each other, filming each other.” pic.twitter.com/i2q4NFkYfb — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.:

March now heading north of SW Fourth Avenue approaching Washington Street. Cops on loudspeaker instructing people to avoid “physical confrontation.” There is small counter demonstrator contingent across the street. pic.twitter.com/Z8plCAQeq3 — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:49 p.m.:

The sound truck is announcing: pic.twitter.com/HtRo5a42xk — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.:

And now east along Yamhill. Chants of “USA!” pic.twitter.com/Vh5f8jyImX — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.:

Officers have observed people possessing hard-knuckled gloves, firearms, knives and batons at today's demonstration. For the safety of the community and participants and based on behavior observed, weapons may be confiscated. — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.:

And the March is off. South on Broadway. About to turn east of Yamhill. Just saw a van of riot cops nearby. pic.twitter.com/OHJye7CC8r — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE: 6:31 p.m.:

“Tiny” leads the Patriot Prayer tally attendees and Proud Boys in a chant of “hey hey, ho ho, (Portland Mayor Ted) Wheeler’s got to go!” pic.twitter.com/uKlg0D0otx — Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) October 14, 2018

UPDATE: 6:30 p.m.: A dozen Proud Boys arrive to cheers and hugs from Patriot Prayer crowd.

UPDATE 6:27 p.m.: About 40 in the Patriot Prayer crowd now. Chants of "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Wheeler's got to go!"

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.:

A handful of masked counter-demonstrators are now gathering on the east side of Broadway. pic.twitter.com/RmKkYWeOD2 — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.:

Antifa has gathered across the street from the Patriot Prayer group #koin6news #PDX pic.twitter.com/EDq58FPppC — Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) October 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.:

Patriot Prayer is planning a "march for law and order" in Downtown near Pioneer Courthouse Square. Police in riot gear are around the block. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/A6eDjvbrKN — Lashay Wesley (@LashayKATU) October 14, 2018

UPDATE: 6:05 p.m.:

Scene: “Tiny” on the mic, saying that they’re not here to fight, but will defend themselves if the “masked ninjas” (Antifa) show up. These guys from Washington state want Portland, Oregon’s mayor removed. pic.twitter.com/6K1lfUcLvu — Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) October 14, 2018

UPDATE, 6:04 p.m.: About two dozen marchers on hand as event kicks off.

UPDATE, 6 p.m.:

“I hunt Antifa cowards,” reads T-shirt of participant at Patriot Prayer rally in downtown Portland. I’m here. So are several known Proud Boys from the area. Will be sending updates as needed. pic.twitter.com/s1TekwNGSa — Shane D. Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2018

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh