Journalist speaks out after being attacked by “left-wing extremists” in Portland State

A photojournalist who was attacked by suspected Antifa members in a harrowing confrontation caught on camera at Portland State University last week said the “left-wing extremists” continue to wreak havoc because they never face consequences.

“A friend I was with said, ‘Turn around, there’s a problem,’ so I turned around and there was a group of Antifa coming toward us on the block and I knew they were targeting me Chelly Bouferrache told Fox News Digital.

Bouferrache, an independent photojournalist and reporter for The Publica, was a stay-at-home mom who started covering the news in 2016. What started as a part-time job has turned into a passion project that has taken her to chaotic scenes in Berkeley, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles to cover riots, protests and riots. She ended up at Portland State University when anti-Israel agitators occupied the campus library last week, and the frightening ordeal led to her becoming a target.

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Chelly Bouferrache says she was confronted by suspected Antifa members at Portland State University last week. (Boufer revenge)

“A few days ago I landed at Portland State because I knew there was a camp there. I saw, of course, what I would describe as the usual people, a lot of people in the so-called black bloc, black from head to toe. “They cover their hands, they wear boots, they cover all their tattoos,” she said.

“I was talking to some PSU football players and I looked over my shoulder and there was a woman in block clothing. I represented her in a lawsuit. She was a defendant, I knew who she was, and I knew she knew who I was,” Bouferrache continued. “I have been threatened by Antifa and put under pressure by Antifa many times.”

Bouferrache said she made it clear she didn’t want any problems and asked the woman to leave her alone. According to Bouferrache, the woman initially obeyed and walked away. Then she turned around and was approached by a group of Antifa members.

“They started yelling at me to get out of there and there were several of them and they’re all over this park so I didn’t know what to do and just froze in my seat. I “When I started filming her, I let her know that I felt threatened,” Bouferrache said.

“I got out my pepper gel spray that I keep with me for cases like this – I’ve only had to use it once so far – and I just told them I had it and not to go any closer,” she said. “One of the men came closer and closer to me, taunting me and wanting me to spray him.”

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A photojournalist says she was targeted at an anti-Israel protest at Portland State University. (Boufer revenge)

Bouferrache’s footage shows the group of masked people urging her to use the pepper spray when one announced that they had an even larger can of it. The man then took out his pepper spray can and began shaking it as he approached Bouferrache, she said.

“I’m not a big guy and standing up to these people isn’t going to work for me,” she said. “They won’t be afraid of my strength or that I might beat them up.”

Later, while reporting on another protest at the school, Bouferrache said she was approached by an “Antifa spotter” who recognized her as someone the group did not want to cover up about their antics and alerted others to her presence .

“I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw another independent photojournalist filming this whole interaction and I thought, ‘Oh great, he’s going to shoot them like they hurt me,’ and while he’s filming another big guy on the block he goes right behind him and starts a fight with him,” Bouferrache said.

The video, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows the journalist warning the suspected Antifa member to back away as the recording device was suddenly ripped from his hand.

Bouferrache said she saw the encounter and captured it on video. She went to grab her journalist colleague’s phone as he struggled with the man, who slammed it on the ground.

“I just got knocked over and I don’t know how many people there were because I just couldn’t lose my gear and I started screaming and then I could feel people on my legs so I started kicking. I heard “This lady says, ‘Stop,’ and I look up and there’s a woman standing over me while they’re trying to take my equipment and stop them,” said.

Chelly Bouferrache said she was knocked down while trying to retrieve another photographer’s phone. (Boufer revenge)

“The people on the ground at Portland State University call themselves anti-fascists. “They’re really not anti-fascists, they’re left-wing extremists, and they’ve been allowed to take over whatever they want in this city, and I’ve seen that in other cities,” she continued. “I’m not sure what’s to stop them from doing this if they never face consequences.”

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She also posted footage of the situation on social media.

“I edited a video of what happened to me yesterday as I prepared to leave PSU here in Portland. This is something that comes with the territory. I have only listed the highlights here. These sociopaths have been wreaking havoc on the city for years now,” Bouferrache wrote.

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Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.