Clark College will close its campus Monday ahead of a planned demonstration by far-right activist group Patriot Prayer, citing safety concerns.
The Vancouver-based activist organization had previously announced plans to hold a demonstration at the campus, as well as another Tuesday at Washington State University Vancouver, to protest Initiative 1639, the gun-safety measure on the November ballot.
Patriot Prayer rallies, often held in liberal strongholds as a tactic to increase the group’s visibility, consistently lead to violence as counterprotesters clash with group members, along with white nationalists and other fringe-right extremists drawn to the organization’s events.
On Monday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced a group of Patriot Prayer protesters had gathered a “cache” of guns at a downtown rooftop before an Aug. 4 protest. Officials tried walking back the severity of that incident the next day.
In a message to students and staff, Clark College President Bob Knight said all classes will be canceled and only employees needed for critical work will be asked to come in.
The cancellation applies to all Clark College classes, including those at WSU Vancouver and Columbia Tech Center, he said.
“As a public institution of higher education, we value civil discourse on a wide range of topics, and we welcome free speech and open debate. However, we have to balance those values with the needs of our students to have a safe environment in which to learn, and of our employees to have a safe environment in which to work,” Knight said in a statement.
“Given the history of violence associated with this group, as well as with the groups that often appear in reaction to it, and given that the group has not taken the steps we normally expect organizations to complete in advance of First Amendment activities on our property, we feel that suspending operations is our most prudent course of action,” he added.
Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson of Vancouver previously estimated about 40 protesters would turn out at the respective campuses, handing out flyers and encouraging people to vote against the ballot measure.
Gibson said Thursday he respects the school’s decision, considering the campus community’s safety concerns.
The group still plans to demonstrate on campus Monday, however, and at WSU Vancouver the next day. He declined to share specifics but said the group plans to hold other events in Vancouver that week, as well.
“We’re going to do something next week to kind of prove — help people understand they shouldn’t be afraid of us, they should be afraid of politicians who don’t enforce the law,” Gibson said. “We definitely want to make a point to help people understand they don’t need to be afraid of us. … They should be afraid of going into Portland.”
WSUV to remain open
At WSU Vancouver, student diversity groups sent an open letter to the campus community Oct. 16 asking staff and students to stay away from campus.
School Chancellor Mel Netzhammer, in a message to the campus Thursday, said classes would not be canceled, but asked staff to not penalize students who choose to not come to class.
Campus police will be present at the rally, he said, adding that he recommends those who come to the school avoid engaging with protesters.
“I take this opportunity to remind you that WSU Vancouver stands against bigotry and hatred, even as we hold freedom of expression as a core value,” he said in an earlier message to campus.
I-1639 would give Washington some of the nation’s strictest gun-safety laws if approved. The law would raise the minimum age to buy a semi-automatic firearm from 18 to 21, require firearms training before a semi-automatic rifle can be purchased and institute a 10-day waiting period for individuals looking to purchase the weapon.
