On June 1, 2020, thousands gathered on the Burnside Bridge in Portland, arms linked, as part of a planned “Die In” protest. This demonstration aimed to support the burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement, occurring just a week after the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
That night marked the fifth consecutive evening of protests in Portland, with iconic images from the Die In captured by local photojournalists. These images were soon overshadowed by scenes of unrest: fires, tear gas clouds, barricades, shattered windows, and closed businesses.
For many participants, this moment felt like the dawn of a revolution. Five years have passed since those historic demonstrations, prompting questions about the outcomes and transformations within the city.
“Things aren’t better — better is probably too strong a word. They’re different now,” reflected Justice Rajee, director of Reimagine Oregon, a Black-led policy initiative launched in the wake of the protests.
Reimagine Oregon swiftly became a catalyst for change, advocating for various proposals, including increased rent assistance, the removal of police officers from schools, halting sweeps of homeless camps, and defunding the local sheriff’s office by $50 million. Some changes were achieved quickly, like the ban on police using tear gas during protests, new rules on booking photo releases, and requirements for officers to report misconduct.
While pandemic funds initially provided a lifeline to homelessness services, these one-time financial boosts have since morphed into budget cuts, leaving ongoing issues unresolved, according to Rajee. “For a moment, there was a very tight focus on the experience — not just of the Black community but with the Black community at the center,” he said. Time has shown that the impactful focus on structural issues, especially those affecting communities of color, must persist beyond temporary initiatives.
The Portland City Council has continued to grapple with the contentious issue of police funding. In 2020, they redirected about $15 million from the police budget, with current discussions centered around cutting an additional $2 million from the bureau’s human resources department. This ongoing debate reflects a larger struggle to balance budgetary constraints with the demand for public safety.
Marking another significant reform, Oregon voters approved a groundbreaking drug decriminalization law in 2020, yet the rise in fentanyl usage has since complicated the landscape, leading to a rollback of the law just three years later.
Devin Boss, a leader with Rose City Justice, expressed frustration at the perceived reversals of progress. Growing up in Portland’s Concordia neighborhood, Boss initially joined the protests to voice the collective agony of a society entrenched in racism that had impacted his community adversely.
What started as a series of demonstrations stretched into an unprecedented 150 days of protest, with participants laying siege to the Multnomah County Justice Center. A faction among the crowd often veered from peaceful protest to vandalism, causing clashes between demonstrators and authorities.
By mid-July 2020, the situation escalated further when President Donald Trump deployed federal officers to safeguard the nearby District of Oregon courthouse. As the initial fervor of protests began to wane, sporadic “direct actions” continued to occur across the city.
Throughout this chaos, both social media and national news outlets portrayed Portland as a war zone, impacting the local economy and its reputation. Boss described the cycle of unity dissipating over time, resulting in many feeling unsupported in the movement. He shared his reflections in Black Out, a local magazine developed by writer Donovan Scribes and the Portland Mercury, emphasizing a lingering commitment to the cause.
“I remember feeling like, ‘Yeah, as soon as Biden gets elected, we’re going to lose a lot of these people,’” Boss recalled, affirming that the movement’s impact on his identity was indelible. The dynamics within the protest movement were complex, marked by divisions between factions advocating for legal reforms and those identified as anarchists or affiliated with antifa.
The protests were further set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating homelessness rates. Additionally, a significant shift toward remote work altered the downtown dynamics, diminishing the midweek foot traffic that sustained local businesses.
These factors fueled a backlash, compelling city leaders to respond to public safety concerns. “There’s been a pendulum swing,” said Amaury Vogel, CEO of the Oregon Values & Beliefs Center, highlighting an increased reluctance from the public to tolerate disruptions affecting their daily lives.
The culmination of dissent was evident in 2024 when former Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt faced a surprising downfall after just one term, a stark reminder of the fluctuating public sentiment regarding social justice reform. However, dismissing the protests as ultimately fruitless would overlook the significant achievements that emerged from this tumultuous period.
A charter reform committee has redefined city governance, leading to a newly expanded City Council that better represents geographic diversity. Recent polls indicate that a greater number of Portland residents feel their views are represented by elected officials compared to previous years.
Moreover, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles have permeated both corporate and governmental sectors. While some areas nationally have rolled back their commitments, Oregon leaders, including Governor Tina Kotek, remain steadfast in their support for DEI policies and the state’s sanctuary status.
In Northeast Portland, the Albina Vision Trust has taken significant strides toward revitalizing the historically Black Albina neighborhood. This nonprofit aims to construct a cap over Interstate 5 and develop affordable housing, addressing the historical injustices that saw many homes and businesses displaced during mid-20th-century urban developments.
Portland Public Schools are also engaged in redeveloping their headquarters, which stands adjacent to Albina. According to Sharon Gary-Smith, a board member of Albina Trust, the construction of a new apartment building in the area is progressing ahead of schedule.
Gary-Smith expressed optimism, stating that the city is unlikely to revert to its previous state. “I don’t think there’s been a retreat from Portland wanting to do better — just the gap between want and evidence of real movement,” she said, enthusing about the potential of new leadership.
As Portland continues to navigate the aftermath of the 2020 protests, the dialogue surrounding social justice, public safety, and community support remains crucial. The evolution of the movement reflects broader societal shifts, emphasizing the importance of sustained dedication to fostering change.
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2025/05/black-lives-matter-protests-rocked-portland-in-2020-five-years-later-what-remains.html
