Far-left actor Michael Rapaport's support for Israel prompts Antifa to violently protest his Portland comedy show

As is their wont, dozens of far-left, violent Antifa agitators shouted expletives and fired off explosives over the weekend, this time outside a comedy club in Portland, Oregon, to express their outrage that the establishment dared to allow far-left actor Michael Rapaport, who supports Israel, to perform there without their approval.

On Friday night, with temperatures well below freezing, dozens of Antifa protesters gathered outside Helium Comedy Club, where Rapaport was scheduled to perform five shows over the next two days. According to videos shared by Andy Ngo, a journalist who has been covering Antifa's violent antics for years, a line of police officers protected the perimeter of the club as protesters attempted to intimidate those trying to get inside, even going so far as to hurl fireworks at the building to make their outrage known.

"PDX hates Michael Rapaport," reads the message emblazoned on this TikTok video originally posted by @molinacozcatracy and shared by Ngo.

While firing off explosives and harassing club-goers, the leftist protesters also shouted various anti-Semitic chants, such as "[From the river to the sea,] Palestine will be free." They also yelled, "F*** Michael Rapaport" and warned him to get "out of Portland."

Despite the threats, Helium hosted all of Rapaport's shows as scheduled. The club did not respond to the Portland Mercury's request for comment.

While Rapaport's history of unhinged social media tirades against former President Donald Trump would seem to put him in the far left's good graces, his unfettered support for Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7 have instead made him persona non grata for many in Portland.

Tyrone Collins, co-founder of the NW Black Comedy Festival, was one of many "local comedians" and other "activists" who recently called for Helium to cancel Rapaport's shows, according to the Portland Mercury. "Some of the things he's posted on his social media — it's been hateful," Collins said. "For some reason, Helium just tells us it's OK to back this man and the hateful things he's spewing. They have no idea what he's gonna get up there and say, you know, and they're willing to take that chance. It's just — it's not a good look."

Reese Hendrik of local comedy blog LaughsPDX chimed in as well. "Given recent commentary from Mr. Rapaport about the ongoing violence in Gaza, we do not support the platform being provided for him," wrote Hendrink, who is Jewish. "While it is not our place to police the scene or individual clubs, we find it necessary to voice our stance and solidarity with the Palestinian people."

A couple weeks ago, some of Rapaport's detractors even began circulating a flier on social media demanding that Helium cancel his shows because of his supposed support for "the genocide of an entire people (including children.)" Should Helium refuse to cater to the group's whims, agitators will "be prepared to show up to protest," the flier warned.

For his part, Rapaport, 53, embraced the free publicity such fliers and calls for protest brought to his shows. In fact, he even shared the flier on his Instagram account, claiming it was "fantastic" for business and promising attendees that his Helium shows would be "like a party!!!!"

"I will always do my Act," he also said in a statement to the Portland Mercury. "You always do the Act. Obviously every show is different and I talk and discuss some current events with the audience at every show. The Act is personal & disruptive. … I’m a long time Trailblazers fan & love the weed in Portland."

He has also not backed down on his support for Israel. He has even begrudgingly admitted that, because of Israel, he may vote for Trump in the 2024 presidential election if President Joe Biden is the Democrat nominee. "If it comes down to pig d**k Donald Trump and smokin' Joe Biden, I'm sorry — I am sorry — voting for pig d**k Donald Trump is on the table. I'm sorry. I'm f***in' sorry. I'll still call him slob d**k Donald Trump, and pig d**k Donald Trump, and all that. But we've got to get this whole f***in' situation under control," he said in a social media video last November.

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