Recent events in Portland, Oregon, and Boulder, Colorado, have highlighted a concerning trend among Antifa-affiliated groups: the creation and dissemination of public "hit lists" targeting journalists and student leaders for their perceived ideological views. These lists have been linked to instances of threats, harassment, and even physical assaults, prompting worries about the consequences for press freedom and the safety of students.
In Portland, during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), certain independent journalists, including Cam Higby, Chad Caton, and an individual known as @oceanplot on social media, were singled out in flyers as "far-right/right-leaning content creators." These flyers, which included photos of the journalists, warned protesters not to engage with them, effectively marking them as undesirable for their reporting styles. One journalist described the flyers as a "hit list," alleging that they led to threats and harassment against those named.
Local media's coverage of these events has been scant, overshadowed by other news and ongoing arrests at protests, with at least two recent arrests at Portland's ICE facility bringing the total to 55, according to The Western Journal.
In a separate incident in Boulder, a 19-year-old student leader associated with Turning Point USA was assaulted near the University of Colorado campus. The assailant, described as a white male dressed in black and wearing a ski mask, attacked the student from behind with a hockey stick while the victim was cycling. Fortunately, the student did not sustain serious injuries and declined medical attention, as reported by The Post Millennial.
Investigators are looking into whether the assault was connected to prior social media posts and a digital flyer distributed by Colorado Antifa groups, which accused the student of engaging in white supremacist activities and urged followers to report him to the university. Boulder Police have confirmed Antifa's involvement and are investigating the link between the materials circulated and the assault.
Journalists in Seattle have faced similar targeting. Cam Higby and journalist Brandi Kruse were violently attacked while covering anti-ICE protests. Higby suffered a concussion and severe trauma after being choked and punched, while Kruse and her team were harassed, sprayed with hornet killer, and physically assaulted, as reported by Fox News in June.
Conservative influencer Nick Sortor's arrest during confrontations at a Portland ICE facility has also drawn national attention, with President Trump citing the incident as evidence of leftist extremism. Furthermore, Katie Daviscourt, a reporter for TPM, was attacked in Portland, receiving a black eye from a flagpole wielded by an alleged Antifa protester.
These incidents underscore a troubling pattern where Antifa-affiliated groups actively identify and publicize individuals for their ideological stances. This practice not only risks escalating political and physical confrontations but also complicates law enforcement responses. The targeting of individuals based on ideological grounds raises broader concerns about freedom of speech, the safety of the press, and student security on college campuses and in public spaces.
As investigations into the Portland and Boulder incidents continue, they are poised to intensify the ongoing national debates over protest tactics, accountability for extremist actions, and protections for journalists and students involved in documenting politically charged events.
