2 weeks Ago
PORTLAND, Ore. — A series of anti-Trump protests are planned for Saturday in the Portland area as part of another nationwide protest day, similar to the one two weeks ago that drew thousands of people to Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The April 5 events were fairly closely coordinated, with most titled some variation of "Hands Off!" and bearing similar descriptions.
The events this coming weekend appear a bit more disjointed, based on their online planning pages, but are being organized by many of the same activist groups, including the Portland branches of Indivisible and 50501. The largest event is at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, although the the title is inconsistent; one online flyer refers to it as a "Funeral for Democracy" while other listings are titled "This American Revolution Demands Liberty and Justice for ALL" or "Unite the Fight" or just "50501 Portland - Protest." The timing is also slightly inconsistent — some listings say it'll start at 11:30 a.
m. and others say noon. Regardless, the listings all outline a plan for a half-hour period to gather at Pioneer Square followed by a planned march along a 1.
2-mile loop around downtown Portland, with some volunteers keeping rally activities going in Pioneer Square while the marchers are away. The inconsistency appears to stem from the fact that there are two local 50501 groups that may have initially planned separate events; 50501 PDX 's posts all reference an 11:30 a.m.
start time and 50501 Portland 's all say noon, but both list the same protest and march plan. A news release from the Portland Police Bureau also noted that "multiple groups" were planning Saturday protests at Pioneer Square. PPB warned that the event may impact downtown traffic on Saturday afternoon, adding that the agency doesn't know what to expect for attendance but is preparing for the possibility that the event could again draw thousands of people.
PPB said it has been working to establish liaisons with protest organizers and will deploy "Dialogue Officers" in white uniform shirts along with regular patrol officers on bikes and in SUVs to facilitate public safety and assist with traffic control as needed. Other regional events Local organizers with the group Indivisible appear to be planning a separate event at 3 p.m.
at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in Portland's South Waterfront neighborhood, billed as an Earth Day Rally that will protest the Trump administration's environmental and energy policies and call for the Oregon Treasury to "align its investments — including PERS money — with our values," specifically by divesting from Tesla. The Indivisible Greater Vancouver chapter and MoveOn Clark County have also posted a plan for an event outside a Tesla store on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver at 11 a.m.
Saturday, billed as a protest against billionaire Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration. Another activist group called Rise and Resist has posted a plan for a Saturday rally on the capital campus in Salem from noon to 3 p.m.
.
