Today was something we've been dreading for a while.

The Proud Boys bragged that tens of thousands of people were coming to Portland from across the country for the purpose of violence and intimidation.

A state of emergency was called. We kept our kids inside, and we prepared.

... and rather than tens of thousands, it was about 500 fugly dumplings.

And their bravado meant that Oregon State Police took over for the far right friendly PPB.

And as a result some Proud Boys were actually arrested, which must have shocked the hell out of them.

Meanwhile BLM and antifacists gathered at several other sites, far from the dumplings, and gave out free food, played soccer, and massed in far larger numbers than the nationally organized Proud Boy event.

And I feel like this is a really good sign.

These events are stressful, needless, and have a negative impact on our lives.

However, they are also abject failures and each one is more pathetic than the one before it.

They're withering. And when they don't have PPB providing cover, they really seem lost.

So, while this is still terrible and is not what should be happening in a healthy society, what I'm seeing is a political and ideological failure.

They hold a lot of institutions because of systemic quirks and an apathetic public.

But that apathy appears to have ended.

The public is engaged, passionate, and eager to act.

Furthermore, BLM and other left wing groups are propelled by young diverse voices. And the coalition keeps growing.

That isn't something for the far right. Rather than recruiting, they're dwindling.

Don't get me wrong, these people are still dangerous and can still do a lot of harm.

But they're losing ground, rather than gaining it.

Things could change, of course, and we still need to fight for what is right and make the world a better place.

But today was a good day.