Joey Gibson (political activist)

In 2016, Gibson founded the far-right[4][5][6][7] group Patriot Prayer.[8][9]

On February 25, 2018, Gibson announced that he would be running as a Republican in the 2018 U.S. Senate election in Washington, seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell.[10] Gibson was defeated in the primary election, receiving only 2.3% of the votes cast.[11][12]

During a March 2018, campaign rally in Spokane Valley, Washington, Gibson expressed opposition to antifa, a group that frequently protests at his events, stating regarding white nationalists that "I would say the same thing to them that I would say to any black nationalist or Mexican nationalists [sic] group, we have to drop the identity of politics and focus on what is on the inside."[13] He has said freedom of speech is a central element to his platform. Gibson's views have been described as "a complicated muddle" by the Inlander and "basically Alex Jones meets Bernie Sanders" by The Stranger.[14][15] The Proud Boys, another far-right group,[16] have also been present at several of Gibson's events.[17][18]

In February 2019, Willamette Week reported that a Portland police lieutenant kept in close touch with Gibson, passing on to him intelligence about the anti-fascist movement in the city. He also advised Gibson on how a Patriot Prayer member could avoid being arrested.[19] Portland's Independent Police Review investigated and cleared the officer because he was gathering information on the groups and trying to defuse potential clashes with his advice.[20]

Gibson appeared at a protest against COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on December 21, 2020, in which he tried to force his way into the Oregon State Capitol during a special session of the Oregon legislature.[21]

Gibson was one of six men accused of inciting a riot between Patriot Prayer and antifa on May Day 2019 in Northeast Portland outside of the bar Cider Riot.[22] He was indicted for felony riot by the Multnomah County District Attorney on August 15, 2019.[23] Gibson pleaded not guilty to the charge.[22]

The Oregonian reported "a Portland police detective said Gibson could be seen in a video "taunting" and threatening members of antifa and later "physically pushing" a woman before she was hit with a baton and knocked unconscious by someone else."[22] During the brawl, the woman had her vertebrae broken.[24][25][26] Cider Riot's owner sued Gibson and associates for $1 million for their actions.[27] A Navy veteran, who had infiltrated Patriot Prayer and took videos of the violence at their rallies, was expected to testify at Gibson's trial,[28] scheduled for October 26, 2020.[22]

On September 4, 2020 Facebook removed Gibson's page (along with the page for Patriot Prayer) as part of their "ongoing efforts to remove violent social militias from our platforms".[29][30] The company's action followed escalating tensions related to protests in Portland, Oregon,[31] as the city continued to experience demonstrations related to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd.

On September 11, 2020, Gibson filed a federal lawsuit against Multnomah county's district attorney, alleging selective prosecution based on political beliefs.[22]

Gibson describes himself politically as a "moderate libertarian",[32][33] but his organization has been described in the media as "alt-right".[34][35] Gibson denies that his group is alt-right, and has disavowed white supremacists[36][37][38][39] who frequently appear at his events.[40] The Anti-Defamation League describes his views as appearing to be alt-lite.[41]

Gibson supports a pathway to citizenship for non-criminal illegal immigrants. He supports decriminalization of marijuana, and same-sex marriage.[42] Gibson advocates for establishment of term limits for the U.S. Congress, implementation of a national sales tax, and abolition of the Internal Revenue Service.[14] He opposes what he describes as undue influence of the pharmaceutical industry on healthcare in the United States.[37]

Gibson resides in Vancouver, Washington.[43] He was born in Clark County, Washington, and is of Irish and Japanese descent.[44][9] He grew up in Camas, Washington.[45]