Portland — A prominent anti-fascist activist has sued Joey Gibson for defamation after Gibson called him a pedophile in a video he ended with a call to sue him.
Gibson is the leader of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group that has held multiple rallies in the Portland and Vancouver area. Gibson’s followers often clash with antifa activists during these events.
Luis Marquez has been a constant figure since 2016 with the left-wing activist group and has been convicted of theft and charged with harassment stemming from interactions with people attracted to the Patriot Prayer rallies.
Gibson has singled Marquez out for retaliation for his public role in opposing Gibson and his followers, according to the lawsuit.
In a June 8, 2018, video — five days after a clash between the two groups — Gibson called Marquez a pedophile and warned boys not to join Antifa for that reason.
Gibson ended the video with a challenge: “I don’t care. Bring the slander lawsuit.”
So Marquez is suing Gibson for $161,000 in emotional damages.
Marquez’s lawsuit, filed Monday, says that Gibson has also called him a drug addict and a rapist. The allegations and public video were published on Gibson’s Facebook to an audience of more than 11,000 followers.
Marquez said that Gibson’s video and public statements caused people to threaten and harass him. The lawsuit says that Marquez’s home was vandalized and that he lives in fear of violence from Gibson’s followers.
Gibson has not been charged in Oregon from any of his rallies, but some of his followers have — two of which are named in cases involving Marquez.
Marquez’s suit also lists anyone who has worked with Gibson to defame Marquez, though none are named.
