Thousands fill Portland streets in anti-Trump rally

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Thousands of people marched through the streets of downtown Portland again Saturday afternoon as part of a nationwide demonstration against the policies and actions of the Trump Administration.

Activities in Portland began in the mid-morning, with multiple crowds gathering at Pioneer Courthouse Square. One group, 50501 Portland, began with speeches, then marched.

“We’re done waiting while the current administration dismantles over 50 years of environmental protections,” said a spokesperson for 50501 Portland. “This system has failed our communities, our climate, and our future. We’re marching to show that real change will come from the ground up and that We The People won’t sit idly by while the rich destroy our lands for profit.”

Darren, the lead organizer for the Portland protest said he really appreciates “the opportunity for all these people to get together with me and actually put some service to the community in a real good, tangible way.

Shortly after noon, Portland police closed several streets in downtown because of the size of the march. Then around 1:30 p.m., the march ended as ralliers returned to Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Police later said, “No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.”

The next planned protest rally is Thursday, May 1, organizers said.

Similar protests were held at the same time in Vancouver. Organizers with Evergreen Resistance, a Washington state 50501 group, planned to begin at Vancouver’s Tesla showroom and line the sidewalks along Northeast Andresen Road and Fourth Plain Boulevard creating an “X.”

“We need to get control of our government,” said Vancouver protester John Meyer. “They’re doing some things that just financially, morally, don’t make sense.”

Others rallies happened later Saturday in Beaverton as well as an Earth Day rally for climate justice in Portland’s Caruthers Park.

The protests in the Pacific Northwest are part of the nationwide 50501 (50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement)decrying what they see as threats to the nation’s democratic ideals.

The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the start of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner reading “Impeach & Remove” on the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Organizers around the US said they’re protesting against what they view as Trump’s civil rights and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shutter entire agencies.

Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for “no kings” and resistance to tyranny.

The Trump administration, among other things, has also moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.