Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2017)
Page 4 January 25, 2017 Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Ernest J. Hill, Jr. Agent 4946 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503 286 1103 Fax 503 286 1146 ernie.hill.h5mb@statefarm.com 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service R State Farm R The Law Offices of Patrick John Sweeney, P.C. Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd, Portland, Oregon Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email: (503) 244-2080 (503) 244-2081 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com photo by Z achary S enn /t he p ortland o bServer Volunteer medics apply milk to the eyes of a demonstrator to reduce his burning sensation after Port- land Police used pepper spray to control crowds at a demonstration and march Friday evening that followed the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. ing police “acted needlessly and heavy handed.” He referred to Portland’s police response as, “A disgusting abuse of power.” Saturday’s Women’s March, however, was met with a large “We can all protest peacefully, and c ontinued froM f ront degree of police cooperation exercise our rights.” and participation. An estimat- Police Chief Mike Marshman over Organizers of Friday’s protest the tactics police used, and threat- also recruited volunteer medics to ed 100,000 marchers descended ened to shut down the city with help with first aid, along with sev- upon the Tom McCall Waterfront on Trump’s first full more demonstrations if Marshman eral observers from the American day in office. The action was in co- wasn’t let go by Wednesday. Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, Lydia Tate, a 26-year- old Port- to ensure that free speech rights ordination with sister marches in Washington, D.C. and other locales land resident, said that she joined were not being violated. the Inauguration Day protests to One such legal observer, who across the nation and globe. It was show that she is dissatisfied with asked to remain anonymous due estimated that more than one mil- the newly elected president and to the possibility of professional lion marchers participated in 600 felt the need to show solidarity on repercussions, said people with events around the world in opposi- behalf of basic human rights for an appropriate legal background tion to Donald Trump’s presidency. Prior to the Women’s March in everyone. were as needed as a check against Portland, labor groups also gath- “We’re here, standing against unlawful police actions. him,” she said as she marched up “People need protection in ex- ered in Shemanski Park, down- Southwest Taylor Street. ercising their First Amendment town, to showcase union solidar- ity with immigrant communities Speaking as the crowd gath- rights,” he said. ered itself once again into Pioneer Then, just as he was describing and communities of color. It was Courthouse Square, Louise his own motivation for volunteer- a powerful counterweight to Haughen, a 51-year- old Seattle ing, police set off a percussion Trump’s call for restrictive immi- resident, explained that this was charge as a crowd control tactic. gration measures and his caustic the first demonstration she had Police warnings of pepper spray campaign rhetoric about women ever attended. She said she want- and rubber bullets followed and and minorities. In total, more than 59 organiza- ed to help sow national discontent the crowd retreated southward on tions from the Portland area par- with the new president and his ad- Fifth Avenue. ministration. McKelvey expressed his frus- ticipated in local protest actions “I think he’s racist… And he is tration that police later deployed in opposition to the new Trump going to bring us to war,” she said. the explosions and used pepper Administration. Backed by labor unions, community centers, and Haughen was in Portland visit- spray as a disabling weapon. ing family, and said that by partic- He said organizers complied faith-based groups, it was a united ipating in a mass rally against the with an agreement to stay off front against the perceived threat incoming Trump Administration, of bridges and freeways, claim- to civil rights. Resistance
