Protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Dueling protests took center stage in Salem on New Year’s Day, disrupting traffic and life in downtown Salem and carrying a threat of violence.
One crowd gathered at the Capitol, listening to speeches about defying state orders related to the pandemic. A second crowd gathered at Bush’s Pasture Park in a counter-demonstration.
Police reported later they repeatedly intervened to keep the two groups from tangling, including people carrying an assortment of weapons. Three people were arrested before the events dispersed on Friday evening.
No injuries or damage was reported.
Far-right protesters march from the Capitol to Mahonia Hall to protest Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters march from the Capitol to Mahonia Hall to protest Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police gather at the Salem transit mall on Friday, Jan. 1, ahead of protest by both far-right and far-left groups. More than 100 officers from Salem Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police were assigned to the protests. (Christopher Ward/Special to Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters hold up an American flag outside of Mahonia Hall in south Salem as part of a demonstration opposing Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters hold up an American flag outside of Mahonia Hall in south Salem as part of a demonstration opposing Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters hold up an American flag outside of Mahonia Hall in south Salem as part of a demonstration opposing Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police square off against far-right protesters outside of Mahonia Hall, home of Gov. Kate Brown in south Salem. Demonstrators were protesting Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) 
Protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters chase down a man in the street after an unlawful assembly was declared while gathering in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police keep back the crowd while making an arrest in downtown Salem during a far-right protest against Covid restrictions on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police respond to protesters in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Police block the intersection of Southeast High and State Streets during demonstrations on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters run back to High Street in downtown Salem to face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared while they confronted a second group in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared while gathering to protest Covid restrictions in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared while gathering to protest Covid restrictions in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared while gathering to protest Covid restrictions in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A counter-protester argues with a police officer outside of Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails during a far-right march in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Far-right protesters face off with police after an unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Salem on Friday, Jan. 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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