Profile: Joey Gibson

Joey Gibson

Patriot Prayer

People’s Rights Washington Area 8 Member

Location: Vancouver, Washington

 

Joey Gibson, leader of the violent far-right street-fighting group, Patriot Prayer, plays a substantial role in the People’s Rights network, acting as a bridge between the violent street fighters and the COVID-19 insurrectionists. Gibson formed Patriot Prayer in 2016, and the group has become well known for violent confrontations with anti-fascists and anti-racists.

At rallies and street clashes around the country, violence has been a part of the Patriot Prayer brand. Gibson is currently facing felony riot charges for his actions outside of a Portland pub in 2019. Patriot Prayer figure, Tusitala “Tiny” Toese, pled guilty to assault connected to his activity with the group.[1]

The group’s anti-left fanaticism is reflected in some members, such as Tusitla Toese, wearing t-shirts declaring that “Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong” – a reference to the Chilean Dictator Augusto who came to power through a CIA-backed military coup that overthrew democratically-elected President Salvador Allende and whose regime launched a campaign of brutal repression against left opposition.[2] White nationalists and racist reactionaries like the Proud Boys have been documented at Patriot Prayer events. Gibson is also known for organizing and attending anti-Muslim events.[3]

In recent months, following his indictment, Gibson appears to be attempting to rebrand his image from an unhinged anti-anti-fascist street fighter into a so-called “constitutionalist” or “patriot,” even giving voice to ideas associated with the Posse Comitatus.

Joey Gibson has officially been a member of the People’s Rights Washington Area 8 Facebook group since July 1. Gibson has played an important role with People’s Rights through his work with Area 4 assistant Kelli Stewart. Together they led efforts to press local public officials to refuse to enforce COVID-19-related restrictions.

In May, Gibson also spoke at a “Liberate America” event hosted by People’s Rights figure Casey Whalen of North Idaho Exposed. And Whalen interviewed Gibson at a May “reopen” rally in Olympia, Washington.[4]

 

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NOTES

[1] Wilson, Conrad. “Patriot Prayer’s Tusitala ‘Tiny’ Toese Pleads Guilty to Assault Charge.” Oregon Public Broadcasting. January 12, 2020.  https://www.opb.org/news/article/vancouver-patriot-prayer-tusitala-tiny-toese-plead-guilty-assault-charges/; KOIN 6 News Staff. Documents detail Joey Gibson’s felony riot charges. September 5, 2019. https://www.koin.com/news/crime/documents-detail-joey-gibsons-felony-riot-charge/.

[2] United States Institute of Peace. Report of the Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation. October 4, 2002. https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/resources/collections/truth_commissions/Chile90-Report/Chile90-Report.pdf. The Pinochet regime’s anti-left campaign included killing 1,068 people through political violence, execution, and torture, and having 957 “disappeared after arrest,” according to the 1993 Report of the Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation. On Tusitala and the t-shirt, see instance, Latino Rebels. A ‘Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong’ T-Shirt Got Attention at Portland Far Right Rally. August 6, 2018. http://www.latinorebels.com/2018/08/06/pinochetdidnothingwrongbs/; KOIN 6 New Staff. “‘Pinochet Did No Wrong’: Who is Pinochet.” KOIN 6 News. August 4, 2018. https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/pinochet-did-no-wrong-who-is-pinochet/.

[3] Person, Daniel. “Portland ‘Anti-Sharia’ Rally, Criticized By Mayor After Stabbing, Moved to Seattle.” Seattle Weekly. May 31, 2017. https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/portland-anti-muslim-rally-moved-to-seattle/.

[4] Whalen, Casey. “Liberate America Event in North Idaho JOIN US.” InlandNWReport. http://inlandnwreport.com/2020/05/15/liberate-america-event-in-north-idaho-join-us/; Whalen, Casey. Facebook. May 9, 2020.