When protests happen, many things can easily get chaotic. With heightened emotions and tension, sparks can fly at any moment. Things become even worse when agitators are involved, people who actively want chaos to unfold. For Portland, Oregon protesters, one such figure is Nick Shirley, a popular MAGA YouTuber. This same influencer previously made propaganda videos at the CECOT concentration camp in El Salvador on behalf of the Trump administration. It’s safe to say that many protesters opposing Trump and his policies did not appreciate his presence.
It’s clear that, at best, Shirley wants to turn the protests into content, and at worst, he may want to escalate the situation. At one point, a Portland protester chased him away, telling him to leave. The protesters were frustrated with how he was exploiting them, shoving his camera into people’s faces and clearly trying to turn the protest into propaganda material.
As if things weren’t already heated enough, DHS agents were also present, harassing people on the ground by flashing bright laser flashlights at protesters. Shirley used this to push back, telling the Portland protester that DHS was watching. Internet users who saw the video expressed their frustration with the situation.
“They’re there to instigate violence and then act like a victim when someone gives them what they’re pushing for. We’re on the brink of a second Kent State massacre,” one user wrote. Many others criticized the DHS’s use of lasers and the way they treated protesters like criminals or terrorists. The agents weren’t being subtle at all; anyone could check Shirley’s YouTube channel and see him claiming that Antifa had taken control of Portland and that the city had fallen.
“He actually had two snipers on him. One green, one red. Green one on the throat (guy on left, not right) and one on the heart (red),” one user wrote. Another added, “Every video I see out of Portland shows that there’s literally no one there committing any violent or criminal acts, and yet they have SNIPERS on rooftops. What the actual f*** is happening?!”
Some users used the Reddit thread to encourage resistance against the Trump administration and DHS. Beyond joining protests, some even suggested refusing service to anyone associated with ICE or DHS. “If you know someone who works for ICE, sever ties, never speak to them again. Make sure everyone knows who they work for. If you own a business, refuse them service,” one user advised.
