Hundreds of Portland residents gathered at the Battleship Oregon Memorial on Tuesday for “The People’s Inauguration Day,” a protest aimed at expressing frustration, fear, and anger toward President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
The demonstration, marking Trump’s first day in office, saw at least five individuals arrested for various forms of criminal activity in downtown Portland. Despite the march concluding, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) announced they would remain vigilant, promising to monitor the area closely.
In a tweet, PPB stated, “Police intervention will cease when criminal activity stops. Thank you.”
During the protest, demonstrators voiced their discontent over Trump’s newly signed Executive Orders, including actions on immigration, gender, and the controversial move to end Birthright Citizenship. Twenty-two states, including Oregon, swiftly filed lawsuits to block these orders.
Protestor Cody Urban expressed concern over what they see as emboldened hate from Trump’s rhetoric. “It’s not just policy. Trump is emboldening people to come out and attack others based on their gender and their sexuality.”
Carolyn Pavlovic, another protestor, raised concerns about the treatment of Filipino migrant workers. “So many Filipino migrant workers leave the Philippines looking for jobs to support their families, and they’re left in some of the most vulnerable conditions. We want to see the U.S. and the Filipino government take responsibility for their welfare.”
The executive orders signed on Trump’s first day have further fueled the resolve of protestors. “The people are not going to take this abuse of power. It’s us who have to fight for what we need,” Urban emphasized.
The protest highlighted a strong pushback against Trump’s presidency, with activists making it clear they will continue to raise their voices against policies they see as divisive and harmful.
