Dispatch from Portland: A Day of Peaceful, Joyous, Resolute Protest
Portlanders gathered this morning at Pioneer Courthouse Square downtown, across the river at Convention Center Plaza, and in inner Southeast at the Hawthorne Bridge to march to Waterfront Park on a beautiful day for a No Kings demonstration. Others went directly to the park where tens of thousands gathered in peaceful, nonviolent protest. There was outrage about what is being done to our country and with it a spirit of joy, camaraderie, and resistance.
Old and young and every age and season of humankind in between, an array of signs, banners, flags, inflatable animal costumes, the Frog Squad and others, “a Dada-esque theme created during immigration enforcement protests in Portland, Oregon, to counter the administration’s narrative of a city under the grip of lawlessness and chaos” (Leingang, Helmore, Millions across all 50 US states march). And clowns, they all come to confront the tyrant and his henchpersons with righteous indignation and the mockery and ridicule they earn each day.
I did not see much of the counterprotests reportedly planned. As I approached information tables set up at the Salmon Street Springs, I did spot three grubby-looking fellows shouting at each other, two who took exception to the rally, the third taking exception to them. A monitor calmly suggested to the third to calm down, everyone else ignored them all.They got bored and walked away before I reached the booths where I chatted with Janine at the Indivisible table. She always shows up.
A little later I saw maybe four or five counterprotesters, one with a bullhorn, who seemed to be intent on disruption and provocation. They too were ignored and soon moved on. I don’t know if they were the same small group of counterprotesters reported by OPB who were greeted with “a sea of jeers. While some yelled at the counterprotesters, others repeated the refrain from Portland Mayor Keith Wilson: ‘Don’t take the bait’” (OPB staff, Tens of thousands)
Demonstrations were held at more than fifty cities across Oregon and in many more throughout the country.
Rachel Leingang, Edward Helmore, Millions across all 50 US states march in No Kings protests against Trump, The Guardian, October 18, 2025
OPB staff, Tens of thousands attend No Kings protests across Oregon, from Portland to Pendleton, OPB, October 18, 2025
April Rubin, “No Kings” protests draw huge crowds across U.S., Axios, October 18, 2025
The Oregonian reported that Portland police estimated the turnout in our fair city at 40,000.
Sisters Berenice and Perla Arias, ages 17 and 14, were dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. “We are protesting for the future. We are the next generation. We got the inflatables to keep Portland weird and make Trump look like a fool,” Berenice Arias said. (Tatum Todd, Carlos Fuentes, No Kings protest against Trump draws 40,000 in Portland, The Oregonian/OregonLive, October 18, 2025)
Keep the faith. Hold the line. Stand with Ukraine. yr obdt svt
a bunch all around atlanta