Portland, OR – Tensions erupted once again in Portland as protests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainments spiraled into chaos late Friday night. The city—already notorious for street clashes between far-left activists and law enforcement—saw a dramatic new twist when independent journalist Nick Sortor was arrested while attempting to rescue a burning American flag.
Sortor wasn’t the only one arrested:
The incident involving Sortor was captured on video and quickly amplified across social media, with conservative journalist Ben Bergquam calling the arrest proof that Portland Police are caving to “antifa terrorists” while silencing those who dare to oppose them.
“Portland PD stands down one antifa terrorist attack, but arrest innocent journalists,” Bergquam tweeted, highlighting footage of Sortor being led away in handcuffs.
WATCH:
Sortor himself weighed in almost immediately after his release, blasting Portland authorities in a fiery post:
“Hey, Portland Police, you made a big mistake. You proved what we’ve all been saying for years—you’re corrupt and controlled by violent antifa thugs.”
Meanwhile, Portland’s mayor brushed off the entire ordeal. In a brief statement, he downplayed the violence, saying there was “nothing to see here.” That sparked outrage among conservatives, who accused city leadership of siding with extremists.
Bergquam doubled down in a passionate livestream following Sortor’s arrest, praising law enforcement and federal immigration officers while warning of the dangers of unchecked radical leftism:
“You’ve got antifa terrorists attacking law enforcement, ICE agents trying to do their jobs, and the mayor says nothing. This is what radical leftism gets you—it’s got to stop in America. God bless ICE. God bless Border Patrol. God bless President Trump. God bless Tom Homan. And to hell with the traitors and the terrorists.”
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The ICE protests, which drew hundreds of demonstrators, were part of a broader push by activist groups to disrupt federal immigration enforcement operations in Portland. Critics say the city has become a magnet for anti-police and anti-ICE demonstrations, often descending into violence.
For Sortor and Bergquam, the night ended with bruises, arrests, and a new rallying cry for their followers. As another participant in Bergquam’s group summed it up to his audience:
“This is what democracy looks like? No. This is what chaos looks like. And it’s what happens when we let antifa run wild. We’re not going to be a socialist, communist country. Not now, not ever.”
Whether Portland Police acted out of legitimate law enforcement concerns or political bias will remain the subject of fierce debate. But for many Americans watching the flag burn while journalists were hauled away, one thing was clear: the culture war is alive and burning in Portland—literally.
Here is more of Bergquam’s recent footage from Portland: