
There were clashes in Portland between right-wing groups and self-described anti-fascists who have pledged to keep the right-wingers out of the ultra-liberal city.

Far-right group Patriot Prayer held a rally in the Oregon city on Saturday to support founder Joey Gibson's US Senate campaign, drawing an equally large crowd of counter-protesters.

Police worked hard to control the tense situation, issuing a warning ahead of the gathering banning weapons from Waterfront Park and ultimately ordering the hundreds of attendees to disperse at around 4pm local time.

At least three people were injured by projectiles including rocks and bottles, but local reports have indicated that the majority of exchanges between groups consisted merely of harsh words.

Police reported making some arrests but did not indicate how many.

At least three people were injured by projectiles at a clash between alt-right group and counter-protesters on Saturday, including Oregonian reporter Eder Campuzano, pictured above

Right-wing group Patriot Prayer held the rally for its leader Joey Gibson, pictured, at noon in the liberal-leaning Oregon city

Riot police charge counter-protesters outside the rally supporting gun rights and free speech on Saturday

A man identified as a counter-protester winds up to hurl an object at police who were attempted to control the crowds

By 2pm police began to deploying flash-bang grenades in order to disperse the crowd after people began tossing projectiles

Gibson's rally this weekend was the third to roil Portland this summer. Two previous events ended in bloody fistfights and riots, and one counter-protester was sent to the hospital with a skull fracture.

Police announced they were suspending service on non-emergency calls for the duration of the rally to free up manpower and that bomb-sniffing dogs and checkpoints for weapons screenings would be set up near the park.

Large numbers of officers in riot gear were seen in formation near Waterfront Park beginning well before the time of the rally.

By 11am local time, Portland cops said they had spotted several 'items that could be used as weapons' including flag poles and homemade shields, and warned they could be subject to seizure.

Gibson's followers were seen on live video gathering and preparing to march to the park. 'I wanna make something very clear,' he said.

'We are not here to beat people up, we are not here to fight - but you have a God-given right to protect yourself if this mayor refuses to protect your constitutional rights!'

Masked antifa wearing all black, masks and helmets were seen marching near the site of the Patriot Prayer rally chanting 'Whose streets? Our streets!'

Shortly after 1pm local time, Gibson tempted fate by walking across the street separating his supporters from left-wing protesters, and silently wading through the crowd with the peace sign raised, live video showed. The crowed hurled obscenities at him, and Gibson was shoved and punched before his body men grabbed him and pulled him away without a further confrontation.

By 2pm police resorted to deploying flash-bang grenades in order to disperse the crowd after people began tossing projectiles.

One of the projectiles reportedly hit Oregonian reporter Eder Campuzano, who was shown in a photo posted to Twitter holding gauze to a head wound as blood streamed down his face.

Fox 12's Tyler Dumont tweeted: 'Was just standing next to @Oregonian reporter @edercampuzano, he got hit with something and is bleeding. Medics helping him. Things are getting extremely intense, even for those of us standing back from the center of these groups.'

Eder responded: 'HEY GUYS. I am okay. En route to get looked at but you’ve seen the worst. Thanks for the concern and stay safe out there, fellow journos — we may be 80% water but dang does it smart when you get beaned by some.'

Another tweet from a man named Mike Walker showed two other people being treated by medics after reportedly being struck by thrown objects.

Police early on seized potential weapons (above) including bats, shields, mace and a knife

Antifa are seen gathering in mass near a Patriot Prayer rally in Portland on Saturday raising fears of violent clashes

Right-wing supporters of the Patriot Prayer group gather during a rally in Portland, Oregon

Gibson (far right in yellow neckerchief) is seen wading into the crowd of left-wing protesters, in an apparent attempt to provoke his opponents into attacking him. He was shoved and screamed at but returned to his side of the street without injury

Right-wing protesters rally in Waterfront Park in Portland on Saturday as antifa gathers nearby

Counter-protesters run from a police projectile during a rally by the Patriot Prayer group in Portland

A counter-protester is seen throwing a smoke canister back towards police who were trying to shut down the rally

Gibson, who is running a long-shot campaign to unseat Democratic US Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington state, said in a live video on Facebook earlier this week that he won't stop bringing his followers to Portland until they can express their right-wing views without interference.

'I refuse to do what Portland wants me to do because what Portland wants me to do is to shut up and never show up again. So yeah, I refuse to do that, but I will not stop going in, and I will not stop pushing, and I will not stop marching until the people of Portland realize that and realize that their methods do not work,' he said.

The candidate's insistence on bringing his right-wing supporters repeatedly to this blue city has crystallized a debate about the limits of free speech in an era of stark political division.

Patriot Prayer also has held rallies in many other cities around the US West, including Berkeley, California, that have drawn violent reactions.

Self-described anti-fascists - or 'antifa' - organized anonymously online to confront Patriot Prayer and an affiliated group, the Proud Boys, in the streets during the most recent rally.

On Saturday morning, Rose City Antifa, Portland's local branch of the far-left group, announced a competing rally in nearby Chapman Park, and put out the call for its supporters to confront the Patriot Prayer group in the streets.

'Together we will defend our community from Joey's thugs!' the group's Twitter account said.

Rose City Antifa announced a competing rally and urged confrontation with Patriot Prayer

Protesters gather before a rally by the right-wing Patriot Prayer group in Portland on Saturday

Protesters gather before a rally by the right-wing Patriot Prayer group in Portland on Saturday

Protestors hold signs expressing opposition to Patriot Prayer ahead of the rally on Saturday

A broader counter-protest organized by a coalition of labor unions, immigrant rights groups and artists also gathered at City Hall before the Patriot Prayer rally.

Organizers said that while Patriot Prayer denies being a white supremacist group, it affiliates itself with known white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazi gangs.

'Patriot Prayer is continuing to commit violence in our city, and their events are becoming more and more violent,' said Effie Baum of Pop Mob, a coalition of community groups organizing the counterdemonstration.

'Leaving them a small group to attack in the streets is only going to allow them to perpetuate their violence.'

Dueling protests a month ago ended with Portland police declaring a riot and arresting four people. A similar Patriot Prayer event on June 4 devolved into fistfights and assaults by both sides as police struggled to keep the groups apart.

The ensuing chaos shut down much of the city's core and police arrested more than a dozen people amid widespread fighting.

Members of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group gather before a rally in Portland on Saturday

A 'No Weapons' sign is seen at a park where right-wing Patriot Prayer group plan to hold a rally

Patriot Prayer supporters gather before the rally. Police have warned that anyone without a valid Oregon concealed carry license will be arrested if they bring a gun