EXCLUSIVE: Antifa claims responsibility for attack on far-left Portland bar in retaliation for them ‘spreading Covid’ by staying open

In a "communique" posted to Rose City Counter-Info on January 31, the group stated that the vandalism, carried out by "disabled anarchists," targeted the Worker’s Tap because of "how this bar inherently operates with unmitigated COVID spread."

"In the early hours of January 29th, some disabled anarchist attacked Worker’s Tap by tagging it and damaging a window. Due to the bullet-proof glass, the window’s damage would only consist of small dents," the statement read.

The group said that phrases and symbols like the anarchist "A," and "161" which calls out "that it was fascists forces whom originally paved the path of COVID as a genocide since April 2020 through the blood of primarily Black and Indigenous disabled people, a road of bones which now many liberals and ableist anarchists goose-stomp on in collaboration with the fascists to maintain a “normal” for keeping bars and other viral-friendly entertainment operating at the expense of disabled lives."

Additionally, the bar was tagged with "Covid Kills!" twice "to address how this bar inherently operates with unmitigated COVID spread, murdering disabled people in the process."

The statement continued on to say that the act was carried out in "retaliation" to the "event organizers in the anarchist scene who contribute to the COVID pandemic by organizing super-spreader gatherings that, in the end, lead to more disabled people dying."

The group claimed that the Covid pandemic "has been weaponized as a genocide against disabled people through the fascist measure of treating Covid as 'endemic.'"

"At its core, COVID 'endemicity' is a fascist political project that seeks for eternal genocide against disabled people. It is for this reason why the COVID pandemic will be referred to as the COVID genocide for the rest of this communique."

The group likened this "Covid genocide" affecting disabled people to that of the "Indigenous genocide" in North America, as well as the Holocaust, saying that these events occurred because "large segments of the country’s proletariat" collaborated in the effort.

"Events at consumption sites designed for eating and/or drinking, as well at 'mask optional' places, all contribute to the COVID genocide no matter if funds go to 'good causes.'"

The statement later added, "This is a call to fightback against the COVID genocide. These periods of mass slaughter have only been mitigated or halted altogether when the people of the targeted demographic fight back and flip it into a social struggle for liberation."

"Right now disabled people are cornered, and the only way we will get out of this corner is through pushing back against those oppressing us."

"This could come in a variety of forms: whether mutual aid to keep disabled people alive, giving anti-maskers shit for their ableist violence, shutting down super-spreader sites and events by any means which stops the COVID spread, etc. We should stop playing nice to the people whom are willing to kill us for beers and yuppy indoor dining, because playing nice has never won any person freedom."

In Multnomah County, where Portland is located, the number of new Covid-19 cases has remained under 1,000 since July. The most recent data shows that in the last full week of January, there were just 275 cases. 31 of those cases required hospitalization. This is down from a spike seen over the summer, with 3,180 cases recorded, and dramatically lower than the omicron spike seen last winter, with 11,373 cases being recorded at its peak, according to county data.

The post concluded by stating that "Anti-Maskers Are Murderers" and "Anti-Eugenics Action," adding in a postscript, "Rip Tort and solidarity with the Weelaunee Forest Defense. This action would had never took place if not for their inspiring militancy. As one of them beautifully said: its either we goose-stomp into the apocalypse or fight back, and in that process of fighting back create a new future of life and liberation."

The Worker’s Tap, the bar targeted by the vandalism, is a worker-owned and operated beer bar in Portland, Oregon. The bar required proof of vaccination to enter the establishment.

According to its website, "Our business is run democratically and profits are split amongst our members."

On Instagram, the bar was seen advertising for a January 29 event held in "solidarity" with the "Atlanta forest defenders," a group of militants that have created an autonomous zone south of Atlanta on the grounds of a planned police training facility. At least 19 members of the group have been charged with domestic terrorism and other serious charges. The event’s description stated that 10 percent of the evening’s sales would be split "between the Atlanta Solidarity Fund and Tortuguita’s family."

Earlier this month, 26-year-old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, who also goes by "Tort" and "Tortuguita," was shot dead by police after he shot and injured a Georgia police officer.

Another post from the bar shows a chalkboard sign outside of the building reading, "we stand in solidarity with ATL Forest Defenders. Rest in power, Tortuguita."