‘No Kings’ Marches Draw Tens of Thousands Across Oregon, Remain Peaceful

The ‘No Kings’ marches that took place yesterday in 50 cities and towns throughout Oregon were peaceful, with no major incidents, injuries, or arrests reported anywhere in the state.

All Eyes Were On Portland Following Protests Outside the ICE Facility

All eyes were on Portland because of the recent furor surrounding protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the south of the city. However, despite a huge show of support, the marches took place without incident.

The biggest rally centered in Portland, where tens of thousands of people converged on the Waterfront Park, where the number of people protesting the powers exercised by President Donald Trump soon exceeded the capacity of the park.

Local law enforcement had to close Naito Parkway between Southwest Ash Street and Southwest Morrison Street to ease the congestion.

However, the atmosphere throughout the three-hour event, which culminated with a march through the streets of downtown Portland, remained upbeat and festive.

Republicans Labeled the Marches as ‘Hate America’ Rallies

The Portland Police Bureau activated an Incident Management Team to control the ‘No Kings’ march, labeled as ‘Hate America’ rallies by Republicans. Resources included traffic officers and an air support unit, supported by police from Hillsboro and Oregon City, and Portland Fire & Rescue.

Large Crowds at Medford and Eugene, Where the Atmosphere Was Festive

In Medford, about 2,000 demonstrators converged on East McAndrews Road. The ‘No Kings’ rally stretched for 1.5 miles between Crater Lake Avenue and Biddle Road with participants waving placards and flags.

There too, the atmosphere was one of fun, with many of the demonstrators dressed in colorful costumes, adding to the festive atmosphere.

A noticeable number of the marchers wore T-shirts or carried posters with the ORD2 Indivisible name, a Democratic organization that promotes civic engagement and calls for government accountability.

Medford Police Department kept a visible presence along McAndrews Road and conducted a number of routine traffic stops during the rally.

Meanwhile, in Eugene, a crowd estimated at between 3,500 and 4,000 brought downtown traffic to a standstill along Ferry Street and East Broadway. The ‘No Kings’ rally remained peaceful throughout, and the city returned to normal by 4 p.m.