Portland Restaurant Vandalized After Hosting White Nationalist Brunch
Protesters targeted Clarklewis, an LGBTQ+-owned establishment, after a group with alleged white nationalist ties dined there.
A fine dining restaurant in Portland, Oregon, was vandalized on Sunday after hosting a private brunch attended by individuals linked to white nationalist groups. Police were called to the establishment, Clarklewis, twice throughout the day following confrontations between protesters and diners, as well as restaurant staff.
The restaurant stated that its staff were unaware of the group's alleged political affiliations when they booked the private event under a generic name. Joe Rogers, the owner of Clarklewis, informed KOIN 6 News that the group's booking provided no indication of their identity.
Portland Police Bureau spokesman Mike Benner reported that officers initially responded around 2 p.m. to a disturbance. Upon arrival, they found a small number of protesters confronting a dining group. At that time, there were no reports of damage or injuries, and officers left the scene.
However, approximately 20 minutes later, a larger group of demonstrators returned. According to police, they broke at least one window at the restaurant before fleeing. Police attempted to locate the individuals responsible with the assistance of air support but were unsuccessful.
The incident gained public attention after a flyer began circulating online, appearing to promote an event featuring prominent white nationalist figures, including Jared Taylor, editor of the far-right magazine American Renaissance. While images of the flyer did not specify a location, local Antifa activists claimed that Clarklewis was the venue.
Photographs shared by protesters appeared to show a group of men dining on the restaurant's patio, some of whom were reportedly wearing clothing with messaging associated with white nationalism. Rogers confirmed that his staff had not noticed any specific attire and had no reason to suspect the group's background.
"We don’t know who’s walking through the door," Rogers told KOIN 6 News. "And sure, if they walk in and they’re awful, and they’re obviously somebody that’s not going to be kind to our staff or to other guests, we’re going to ask them to leave."
Rogers emphasized that Clarklewis does not endorse white nationalism and that staff would not knowingly host individuals with such beliefs. He added that one employee resigned immediately following the confrontation, and other staff members left for the remainder of the day.
The restaurant canceled its Sunday night dining service and a private wedding event scheduled for later that evening. The group that attended the brunch later reimbursed the restaurant $2,000. Clarklewis plans to donate this amount to the community.
Protesters remained outside the restaurant late Sunday afternoon, though they declined to be interviewed. It remains unclear if these individuals were involved in the earlier vandalism.
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