Owner of Cider Riot files $1 million lawsuit against Joey Gibson following violence
PORTLAND, Ore. — The owner of Cider Riot is suing Joey Gibson and his group Patriot Prayer for $1 million after a large fight erupted outside the business Wednesday on May Day.
Abram Goldman-Armstrong blames Gibson for the violence outside the Northeast Portland pub and brewery. Among other things, the suit claims “Patriot Prayer exists as a cipher for other violent groups to conduct paramilitary actions in the Portland-metro area.
It also claims Gibson called Cider Riot “Antifa Central” and told his audiences to “take care of this establishment.”
In a Facebook post Friday night, Gibson said, “What kind of bar allows their customers to be in masks carrying weapons and huge cans of bear spray all while serving them liquor?”
In a statement to KATU and in his Facebook posts, Gibson said he’s always “preached non-violent resistance.”
The lawsuit alleges negligence, trespassing and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Police responded to Wednesday’s brawl, which appeared to leave a woman unconscious. About 60 people were involved in the fight.
The Portland Police Bureau was criticized for the time it took its officers to respond to the incident. On Friday, the bureau defended its actions, saying it took time to pull officers from across the city to get to the fight’s location. Officers didn’t act until the “appropriate resources arrived.”
Police have not announced any arrests related to the fight.