Independent journalist Andy Ngo is suing a Portland-based antifa cell and several specific individuals nearly a year after he was brutally assaulted by a mob of black clad, masked agitators.
Ngo is seeking $900,000 in damages “for assault, battery, emotional distress and racketeering by those who acted to ‘suppress Ngo’s journalism through intimidation and violence,’ and for “ongoing neurological and health issues,” the Portland Tribune reported. A PDF of the lawsuit is here.
With the support of @Liberty_Ctr, I’m suing Portland Antifa & individual associates involved in beating & robbing me. Antifa can no longer use the cloak of anonymity to intimidate & assault with impunity. You can find the lawsuit & support it at this link: https://t.co/j7jaIkxy8f pic.twitter.com/YpHIj8WncL
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) June 4, 2020
The complaint cites two other assaults on Ngo, one during a May 1 protest near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Southwest Portland, and another that took place inside a local gym on May 7, 2019.
On June 29, 2019, the journalist was allegedly assaulted by members of Rose City Antifa during a street rally in downtown Portland while police officers stood back and did nothing.
First skirmish I’ve seen. Didn’t see how this started, but @MrAndyNgo got roughed up. pic.twitter.com/hDkfQchRhG
— Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) June 29, 2019
Ngo would later tell Fox News host Tucker Carlson that the assault happened just “a stone’s throw away from Portland’s most important institutions of the rule of law—the court houses, the central police precinct.”
He was initially treated at a hospital emergency room and later admitted into the hospital to treat a serious head injury.
Update to @MrAndyNgo supporters — he is being admitted to the hospital overnight as a result of a brain bleed. You sick “journalists” and other hacks gloating about this should be ashamed. As for the rest, please pray for @MrAndyNgo who we need back in health — brave man!????????????????????????❤️ https://t.co/XYVy4EbIzv
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) June 30, 2019
The Portland Police Department failed to arrest the any of the agitators caught on video assaulting Ngo during the demonstration, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.
“Antifa is an openly extremist movement with the training and intent of destabilizing this country and overthrowing our constitution,” Ngo said during a live-streamed press conference. “The protection of foolish politicians and the media have emboldened this movement to carry out unprecedented terrorist attacks.”
Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are Rose City Antifa, an “unincorporated association,” Corbyn Belyea, alleged Rose City Anitfa member Benjamin Bolen, local activist John Hacker, Madison Lee Allen and Joseph Christian Evans, who the lawsuit says lives under the Burnside Bridge, as well as 50 unnamed parties.
The lawsuit was filed by James L. Buchal — the chair of the Multnomah County Republicans, who is additionally defending Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson against criminal charges — Harmeet K. Dhillon, and the Center for American Liberty.
While not directly listed as defendants, Dhillon said she plans to pursue discovery and hold liable other associates listed into the 17-page suit, including alleged antifa leader Luis Marquez and Pop Mob, a local Portland group alleged to coordinate with Rose City Antifa.
The lawsuit accuses Bolen of punching Ngo during the May 1 protest, and accuses Hacker of throwing an “unnamed liquid” on Ngo at the local gym.
Finally, the suit alleges that six people wearing masks of Ngo’s face appeared outside his family home to terrorize him on Halloween.
These 6 individuals wearing print-out masks of my face approached my family's home last night, repeatedly rang doorbell, pounded on window, recorded footage of property & gestured at cameras. There were no candy bags. This follows their doxing of my elderly mom's small business. pic.twitter.com/dH8qn1YS85
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 1, 2019
Ngo and Dhillon seem to have concluded that there’s virtually no chance of getting redress for the assaults in the deep blue city of Portland.
“The mayor is very openly left wing and has never criticized antifa one time,” said Ngo of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who is also the police commissioner.
Dhillon described incoming Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt as “a prosecutor who doesn’t believe in prosecution from what I can tell.”
Dhillon said in a statement that when Ngo reported the assaults to state and local authorities, they couldn’t be bothered.
He received “less than zero attention from them, which is really unfortunate because it is the job of law enforcement to keep citizens safe from these types of criminal assaults,” Dhillon said.
“Among the charges in this complaint is an Oregon racketeering corrupt organization’s charge due to the fact that antifa and its allies work in coordination with one another to carry out these assaults, not just on Andy, but on other journalists,” she added.