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If the owners can say they didn't knowingly invite white nationalists in, they can argue that they didn't knowingly put their workers in immediate danger (potentially a labor violation) or endanger other customers, the property, or the surrounding community: All potential litigation on ramps.

If this is a PR statement, a "come back to Clarklewis, it's safe here" invitation, it's a grim one. It admits that white nationalists enjoyed a meal there and that the only system in place to stop it was community action, which the owners found scary. More likely, this is thin legal cover.

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And then we get to the protest, the broken window, the "physical safety" of employees. Again, we hear "however unknowingly" about the reservation, but nothing about what transpired from the moment that group entered the facility to the time their bill was paid and they were ushered out the back door

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And if you have someone floating around not only the sidewalk of your bar, but your outdoor dining area in an "American Nationalist" shirt with gothic script and there are protesters outside, the ignorance plea is off the table.

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As noted previously, the white nationalists weren't hiding. Between the time they entered Clarklewis and the time they paid the tab, jackets were off and the merch was on display: bsky.app/profile/uzza...

As has been noted by others, there were a few tells that this wasn't just some first-Sunday pancake breakfast for the rotarians. There are Central Eastside clubs (and Portland punk venues) with dress codes built exactly for this purpose. Why? Because this isn't new here. bsky.app/profile/john...

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The Clarklewis owners repeatedly state that they did not "knowingly" allow white nationalists into their establishment. They lament the lack of prior knowledge and note all of the ways in which the reservation system fails them in this regard. This covers the point until said persons open the door.

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The Clarklewis insta is back, with a statement from Bruce Carey and Joe Rogers. It admits they sat white nationalists (no longer "alleged" for those following along at @oregonian.com and @koin6.bsky.social ), but hammers the "knowingly" portion of the equation: www.instagram.com/p/DeL2_gmG2D...

instagram.com

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Alissa Azar @alissaazar.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It may look like a different bunch of people for Portland, but it's a familiar—to use their preferred term—Schmidt show.

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Reposted by Jason Notte

There is nothing "alleged" about these white nationalists and "race science" proponents. Numerous attendees had a role in helping organize and promote Unite the Right in Charlottesville, including the tiki torch march. It takes 2 minutes to find information on who they are.

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Woah Duderino @woahduderino.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

When considering the subject of the Clarklewis story, it seems newsdesks spent ten seconds weighing whether it should be a broken window, an employee's job status, or this. Thus far, @koin6.bsky.social , @oregonian.com and KGW are among the newsrooms that have opted against this option:

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Reposted by Jason Notte

I’ve complained about shitty journalism in the past, but this account of what happened at ClarkLewis takes the cake. Complete head in the sand about the Nazis in this town and can’t be bothered to use Google to research ANYTHING! “Oh well, must have happened in a vacuum!” (sarcasm)

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Reposted by Jason Notte

Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

An important Bijan Robinson fact is that I asked him at his draft what show he was binge watching and he said THE MARVELOUS MS MAISEL. I think of this often.

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Oops… www.instagram.com/p/DeII4nrEt1...

Uzza @uzzamodea.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Reposted by Jason Notte

One of the dozens of white supremacists who got caught brunching at Clarklewis yesterday was an ancient bonehead & self-made historian named Thomas Cyr aka 7homas777. He was the dude in the animal print pants & Horst Wessel shirt - an homage to an early nazi paramilitary martyr.

A group of Nazis. One of them is in animal print pants. That is Thomas Cyr.

An older man smiling into his camera. He has on a leather jacket with metal studs.

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“It’s not clear what the pamphlet said.” Perhaps the @oregonian.com could have run it by someone…oh…literate.

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A one-source story (the restaurant manager) that didn’t ask for the pamphlet, did no other research into the Clarklewis event, and let this quote slide…

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Was wondering how this worked out in the past. Toro Bravo and Tasty & Son seemed to keep their high scores, but Yonder got clocked almost a full star before it closed. Clarklewis started unsurprisingly low, given how poorly it had aged. Will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

Courtney Barnett drew more people to Pioneer Square.

"On the subreddit r/Portland, commenters asked what small businesses are expected to do, NOT take a white supremacist's reservation?"

When you're Brooks and Dunn out in Clackamas but Frasier and Niles as soon as you hit Portland city limits.

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Rockom Sockom NoBots @rockom.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

"What's that purple-labeled bottle sticking out of your purse, m'am?" "FREEDOM!"

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Reposted by Jason Notte

Based on the photo from Wikipedia, it appears clarklewis has changed its target market. Did they take down their inclusivity placards before the nazis came to dine?

Photo of clarklewis restaurant with prominently placed pride and black lives matter placards.

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Let's rectify that. Love Campana. Used to use it as an excuse to go to OG Breakside, but am now thinking of heading up there as a reason to visit LaVerne's. And yeah, there's an adage about when you let those guys into a bar. I'd rather not be in that bar.

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Also, it isn't 2007 anymore: It really isn't hard to find an Italian (or Italian-American) place in Portland better than or equal to one that's a little loose with the guest list.

And the morning after at Clarklewis? No review pile-on, but not great. Sub 4.0 rating, newest review from a month ago, owner all over the responses.

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Would love to hear the producers and MEs in city newsrooms explain why it isn’t standing coverage.

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Covered by a local media that largely responds “It couldn’t possibly be that.”

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“Well the protesters wouldn’t answer questions.” You seem to have literature pointing you to the purpose of the event. Maybe start there?

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Lazy. Absolutely lazy weekend journalism

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Hey @koin6.bsky.social , maybe this might have something to do with that “allegedly” that you couldn’t get the weekend crew to report out.

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Be more specific, KOIN. Who was in there?

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Also, speaking from experience, when someone of no Italian heritage whatsoever bends over backwards to favor Northern Italian culture and cuisine over that of Southern Italy or Sicily, they’re typically going to have some other thoughts on social dichotomies.

Kevin Foster @kevinhfoster.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Reposted by Jason Notte

Portland appears to have some sort of white nationalist meetup going on. A source sent me photos of a pamphlet with references to various white nationalist figures and authors.

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During a month in which several of those contemporaries shut down restaurants and/or retired, it’s wild to see what the most destructive version of that looks like.

Jason Notte @notteham.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Portland came out of the pandemic with restaurants and cuisines that gave more of its longstanding communities a place at the table. A little less reclaimed wood, Edison bulbs, and co-opted menus, but ultimately it felt better for the city. Apparently, the last wave’s white-tablecloth set disagreed.

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Oregon GOP: Portland is a godless burning hellhole. Translation: The kid at the PCS concessions counter during Primary Trust tried to pour me a 2020 pinot when he knew there was smoke on the skins. Nice try, junior: Go in back and fetch that 2021.

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Reposted by Jason Notte

Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The problem isn’t that they’re moving past it—it’s that they’re trying to rehabilitate it. Would be better for everyone if people who don’t want to engage with the facts just talked about the play on the field and left it at that.

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Jason Notte @notteham.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Scare quoting “promote” when athletes are being paid to tout a service but not “prediction markets” for prop betting sites shows what Wemby is up against.

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Jason Notte @notteham.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Our hype tax is through the roof

Jason Notte @notteham.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

So, for my own edification: Four-candidate forum = “penetrating” and “in-depth” Six-candidate forum = Unruly, anarchic “pale democracy” Do we honestly believe that there’s no way to accommodate six candidates in a political forum, or are we just trying to get a quick seating at The Malarkey?

Jason Notte @notteham.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My favorite is his but-if-you’re-into-that-kind-of-thing caveat at the end of the story pointing people to a six-candidate forum.