Proud Boy associate sentenced to 14 days in jail for shoving Portland Antifa protester

An Oregon judge has sentenced a Proud Boys associate to 14 days in jail and two years of probation over his role in a violent clash with Antifa at an Oregon City park in 2021. Barry Johnson, 59, of Portland, pleaded guilty to harassment and second-degree criminal mischief. He was sentenced on Wednesday by Clackamas County Judge Jeffrey S. Jones and has been booked into Clackamas County Jail, records show.

Johnson was captured on video evidence shoving an Antifa-affiliated demonstrator, identified as Gerald McCorkle Jr., outside Clackamette Park on June 18, 2021. The incident occurred while far-left Antifa militants and members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group known for street fighting Antifa, organized a violent clash inside the park, prompting police to declare a riot. During this time, Johnson took out a knife and destroyed a sign held by McCorkle that read, "Antifa loves you." Johnson screamed at McCorkle as he carved his knife into the sign, video evidence shows.



Johnson, who has an extensive criminal history including a felony conviction for human smuggling, was initially charged with harassment, second-degree disorderly conduct, and second-degree criminal mischief. The disorderly conduct charge was dismissed as part of the guilty plea agreement, as per court filings.

Clackamas County Deputy District Attorney Joshua Cutino, who prosecuted the case for the state of Oregon, wrote in a sentencing memo obtained by The Post Millennial that Johnson was seen on police body cam footage, drone footage, and bystander video footage "engaging in violent behavior." Cutino said Johnson illegally obstructed traffic while crossing the road with the intent of targeting McCorkle, who the prosecutor described as a nonviolent protester that day.

While Johnson moved to pierce his knife into the sign, Cutino said, "McCorkle remained calm and relatively polite, but also held his ground." The defendant then shoved McCorkle in the chest, prompting McCorkle to cry out for help, according to video evidence reviewed by TPM. Johnson redirected his anger at pedestrians and motorists when he began to walk away, the prosecutor said.

Johnson's conviction stems from the same incident where Alissa Azar, 33, a violent ringleader of Portland Antifa, was found guilty of felony riot and disorderly conduct on August 14 following a five-day jury trial at the Clackamas County Courthouse. Azar received a 14-day jail sentence for her felony criminal conduct, like Johnson, although he was charged with misdemeanor crimes and not a felony. Azar's case was also prosecuted by DDA Cutino, who became the first prosecutor in the state of Oregon to successfully convict an Antifa member at trial.

 

Clackamas County Deputy District Attorney Joshua Cutino was the lead prosecutor representing the State of Oregon. Photo: Chelly Bouferrache


Before Judge Jones issued his sentence on Wednesday, Johnson said that he felt remorse for his actions, explaining that his wife had died shortly before the incident and that he made a lengthy list of "bad decisions trying not to grieve," the Oregonian reported. The defendant said he would welcome the judge's decision with a "joyous heart." Johnson told the judge that he had been working to turn his life around over the past several months. He was recently released from prison following a Dec. 2023 conviction where he was found guilty of smuggling illegal migrants in Arizona.

Gerald "Jerry" McCorkle Jr., who considers himself a "father figure" to felony convicted Portland Antifa ringleader Alissa Azar, a lead organizer of the violent June 18 park riot, read a victim impact statement during the hearing and told Johnson: "I went to that park on that beautiful June day to spread the word that Antifa loves you. Anti-fascism is anti-hate. I want to extend my hand in friendship and brotherhood...When you're ready to take off that hateful uniform for good, when you're done with the fascism and hate, love will be there."

McCorkle attended Azar's sentencing in September and cried in court when Judge Van Rysselberghe sentenced her to a brief jail term for her felonious actions.

In addition to incarceration and probation, Judge Jones imposed a number of extra stipulations on the sentence. Court filings show that Johnson has been ordered not to carry any weapons when attending a public assembly and to disperse from any gathering in the state of Oregon once a law enforcement agency declared the gathering unlawful or riotous.

The Clackamas County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting two more individuals for their alleged criminal involvement in the June 18, 2021, riot at the park. This includes two additional Proud Boy affiliates who both have warrants for their arrests.

The TPM exclusive report on Azar's trial in August 2024 can be read here.