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Among the stranger sights in Portland political unrest in recent months: the alliance of the Multnomah County Republican Party with the movement of nationalists, militia men and racial provocateurs known as the "alt-right."

An anonymous threat to attack the GOP in an April community parade led to the parade's cancellationand to claims that the party was harboring white supremacists in its midst.

Multnomah County Republican Party chair James Buchal speaks at a June 4 free speech rally in Terry Schrunk Plaza. (Tom Berridge)

A new GOP fundraising letter shows that Buchal is taking the rhetoric further: He's asking Republicans to donate to the local chapter to battle "threats of Leftist violence."

"Republicans have been losing the culture wars for a long time, but violent attacks against freedom of speech and assembly by Republicans may mark the last battle in the culture wars," writes Buchal. "The rise of a totalitarian Leftist culture that rejects the First Amendment and permits no disagreement on fundamental political disputes threatens the end of American ideals. Their propaganda is simple, evil and wrong: they call any and all patriotism a form of bigotry."

Dueling rallies trade jeers on June 4. (Joe Michael Riedl)

He repeats his plan to hire Oath Keepers as security guards, and claims that protests by antifa are making Portland a dangerous place for conservatives. "Organized bands of masked thugs who call conservatives fascists or Nazis are rising rapidly within the city," he writes.

And Buchal says the Multnomah County GOP is running out of moneyas a direct result of left-wing intimidation.

"Most recently, we lost the restaurant venue where we were able to hold our membership meetings without rental fees," he writes, "because of the threat of Leftist violence."

Buchal tells WW he has yet to successfully recruit new active members from the protests or bring in money from the letter.

Buchal says he doesn't identify with the alt-right, or support protesters looking for a fight.

When asked about growing fears in Portland about the threat of violence from right-wing extremists and neo-Nazi groups, he said that was nonsense.

"Projection is a classic psychological phenomenon," he says. "In the city of Portland there's no cultural hostility toward Democrats, and I don't see any threats of violence against Democrats."

His letter says the June 4 rally, held in the wake of two murders on a MAX train allegedly committed by a white supremacist, offered "positive messages."

"We saw many young people who are sick and tired of being called racists and white supremacists for standing in support of Western civilization and cores conservative principles like the rule of law," he writes.

Street preachers hold the Christian flag at a right-wing free speech rally in Terry Schrunk Plaza on June 4, 2017. (Tom Berridge)

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Multnomah County Republicans Raise Funds By Alleging "Threats of Leftist Violence" - Willamette Week