PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Hundreds of demonstrators are expected to flood downtown Portland in response to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Monday.
Even as security is being tightened in Washington D.C. in anticipation of the inauguration on Monday, local groups in Oregon are planning multiple demonstrations.
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On Saturday, Portland People’s March plans to rally against Trump’s policies like immigration, healthcare and reproductive rights. However, organizers said they plan to do so peacefully.
“You know, we have the right to march and the right to protest, but we want it to be peaceful,” said Ernie Johnston, with Portland People’s March.
Johnston said the organization is collaborating with local authorities to ensure a smooth event that places an emphasis on cooperation rather than conflict.
“We’ve been meeting with groups that are posting online that are intent to protest or demonstrate,” said Portland Police Chief Bob Day earlier this week.
Portland Police Bureau said they’re on high alert due to clashes in the streets of Portland that happened following last Trump’s first inauguration day back in 2017. At the time, the Associated Press dubbed Oregon the “epicenter” of anti-Trump sentiment.
In the lead-up to this past election in November, businesses downtown boarded up the doors in windows, fearing unrest. Some protests did occur in the days after Trump won for a second time, though they remained peaceful.
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On the night before the latest planned protest downtown, the streets are eerily quiet.
KOIN 6 News talked to some people downtown getting their weekend shopping done Friday night to get their reactions about the planned protest.
Kylie Taylor told KOIN 6 she’s hoping it will remain peaceful in order to “actually get to, like, enjoy Portland without having to worry about places being boarded up and increased security and increased police presence everywhere.”
Jarred Taylor added that he thinks that “what happens in your local government impacts your daily life so much more than anything at the federal level.”
Johnston, the organizer with Portland People’s March, contends that “I think it is totally possible to have a peaceful downtown and a rally at the same time.”
In total, there are five planned protest events over the course of the next four days surrounding the inauguration. Portland police said they’ll be monitoring them closely with increased staffing and ready to respond to any disruptions.
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