Mike Bivins, a former reporter, is facing serious charges in Multnomah County for his alleged involvement in a series of hate crimes targeting religious institutions and a minority-owned business in Portland.
Prosecutors presented evidence, including surveillance footage and internet activity, in court on Tuesday, revealing actions that took place in 2022.
The jury is set to deliberate on 11 charges against Bivins, which encompass first-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree bias crime.
Prosecutor Charlie Weiss characterized the case as fundamentally about targeted violence and intimidation against community members based on their race and religion.
Bivins’s alleged spree of vandalism began on April 30, 2022, when a man wearing a hood smashed a window at Congregation Shir Tikvah, a synagogue located on the east side of the city, and also targeted Everybody Eats, a Black-owned restaurant.
Days later, he reportedly vandalized the library at Congregation Beth Israel, painting “Die Juden” in yellow on the temple’s wall.
The situation escalated on May 3, when a masked individual set fire to the back wall of the Muslim Community Center while patrons inside were celebrating Eid, the holiday marking the close of Ramadan.
The fire, however, was quickly extinguished, as the structure was made from fire-resistant materials, resulting in no one noticing the incident until the following day.
On May 4, Bivins allegedly approached a TV news station to confess to the crimes, expressing frustration over the lack of coverage regarding the incidents.
He was arrested on May 6 at KPTV’s Beaverton headquarters after returning to the station as promised.
In the course of the investigation, evidence was collected from his mother’s Southeast Portland apartment that included the pants and hoodie worn during the crimes, as well as other items submerged in a bucket of cleaning solution.
Law enforcement also obtained a warrant to check Bivins’s internet search history and found visits to Neo-Nazi forums and searches for reports on the vandalism incidents.
Bivins’s defense attorney, Alicia Hercher, pointed out to the jury the importance of the prosecution proving Bivins’s mindset during the acts in addition to the incidents themselves.
She advised the jury to remain objective and methodical as they considered the evidence, asserting that her client would be found not guilty of the charges.
At 37 years old, Bivins once gained recognition for covering protests in Portland during the mid-2010s.
He authored around 20 articles for Willamette Week, focusing on scrutinizing right-wing movements before leaving the publication in 2019.
Bivins has been in custody since his arrest and has previously dismissed two public defenders who suggested he undergo psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatric evaluations have determined Bivins is mentally competent to stand trial, with court sessions marked by volatility.
While Bivins is not expected to testify in his defense, he has been seen expressing frustration during the trial, shaking his head as evidence was outlined by the prosecution.
The proceedings were briefly interrupted when a courtroom deputy observed Bivins making an inappropriate gesture towards the gallery, leading him to protest that he was simply scratching his head.
As the trial progresses, the court awaits the jury’s deliberations on the various charges faced by Bivins, highlighting the ongoing issues of hate crimes and community safety.
image source from：oregonlive
