On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators gathered across Oregon in a unified protest against the Trump administration, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
These gatherings were part of a larger national movement, labeled ‘No Kings’, which comprised over 2,000 events across all 50 states.
The timing aligned with President Trump’s attendance at a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary.
Protesters condemned what they described as authoritarianism, anti-immigrant policies, and ongoing threats to democracy.
In Portland, a significant assembly began outside the Oregon Convention Center around 10 a.m.
Participants waved flags, banners, and signs critiquing both President Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As the morning progressed, the numbers swelled from hundreds to thousands, creating a vibrant scene that extended over ten blocks along Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Chants filled the air: “We fight ICE every day from Portland to LA,” resonating with demonstrators and eliciting honks of support from passing vehicles.
Many participants transitioned downtown for a more extensive rally at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Due to crowd size estimates in the tens of thousands, Portland police found it necessary to close Southwest Naito Parkway between Ash and Morrison streets.
Among the most eye-catching elements of the protest was a large inflatable golden calf representation of Trump, displayed by Faithful America, a Christian group.
They intended to express their discontent regarding the perceived politicization of religious messages.
Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck articulated their stance: “Because Trump continues to attempt to paint himself as a divine entity, in addition to being a king…we feel like it’s important to call that for what it is, that it’s idolatrous and inappropriate and not something that we will tolerate.”
Protests brought together a multitude of voices with diverse concerns.
Some demonstrators expressed outrage over current immigration policies and the utilization of federal law enforcement within local communities.
Others voiced apprehensions about economic issues, social services, and alarming political rhetoric.
Jody Dungay, a Portland resident originally from Minnesota, shared her grief regarding recent killings of Minnesota lawmakers, calling them “unreasonable” and “cruel.”
She linked these events to what she sees as the Trump administration’s role in deepening political divides.
Mike Kaplan, also from Portland, attended to protest the “lack of respect for science or facts” as well as ICE raids targeting “innocent people who are just trying to make a life.”
He affirmed, “I think we’re in a lot of trouble.”
Army combat veteran A.J. Stutzman, a resident of Vancouver, explained that his concerns over the “absolute lawlessness, corruption and cruelty” of the Trump administration prompted his first-ever protest.
He condemned the idea of “turning the military on its own citizens,” describing President Trump’s recent statements as “the scariest speech from a leader” he had ever heard.
Many voices echoed fears for immigrant communities and working families alike.
Ivan Paulik Aguilar, another Portland resident, articulated the necessity of marching to protest the ongoing “harassment of immigrant communities.”
“It’s a privilege for us to go out and be here because we know people who want to be but are too afraid to be out,” he remarked.
Michelline Yumul, who has roots in the Philippines and grew up in Los Angeles, added, “I’m a product of immigrants, and it scares me that my family and people I know who work hard to make a better life can have that all taken away.”
Angelica Yanez-Sanders, who traveled from Dallas to join the Portland protest, expressed her desire to “stand up for democracy.”
Her concerns included ICE raids and Trump’s proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which she criticized for redistributing wealth to the affluent while reducing essential funding for programs like Medicaid.
“I think what got me upset is that hardworking people are getting taken away, people’s families are getting ripped apart, and even U.S. citizens are being taken away without due process,” she lamented.
As the afternoon progressed, the protest transformed into a march moving south on Naito Parkway, generating traffic delays throughout the downtown area and extending to the east side of the city.
Chris Stone, a 73-year-old veteran protester who became active at a young age during the Vietnam War, shared his perspective on the power of protest.
He stated, “The power of protest is the people’s voice.
It’s stronger than violence. It’s stronger than guns. It’s stronger than tyranny.
As long as the people get out and make their voice heard, we will prevail.”
The demonstration continued to grow so significantly that the initial group crossed the Hawthorne Bridge, looped up Southeast Grand Avenue, and returned over the Morrison Bridge—while those at the end had yet to reach the Hawthorne Bridge.
As the protest began to wind down later in the afternoon, a splinter group of a few hundred marched towards the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building located at 4310 S. Macadam Ave.
By around 6 p.m., Portland police deemed the scene an unlawful assembly and subsequently classified it as a riot.
Authorities acted to close the area after clashes occurred between the splinter protesters and federal officers.
Federal officers, donning tactical gear, employed smoke, tear gas, flash grenades, and other projectiles in response to demonstrators hurling water bottles and fireworks.
Witnesses observed as protesters broke glass doors at the facility.
Elsewhere in Oregon, peaceful protests continued earlier in the day, with events ranging from small neighborhood gatherings to larger demonstrations in Beaverton, Eugene, and other cities.
In Medford, police estimated a crowd of 3,000 gathered along East McAndrews Road near the I-5 overpass.
Sally Mirza, who traveled from Ashland, described the atmosphere of the event as “joyous and energetic, a release people need.”
In Happy Valley, thousands turned out along Southeast Sunnyside Road near Clackamas Town Center, where U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum made a brief appearance to greet protesters and engage with constituents.
Tom Pham, a 61-year-old immigrant from Vietnam, articulated the necessity of the protests to counter the Trump-era nostalgia for “the worst parts of our country’s history.”
Karen Long, a special education teacher, conveyed her concerns regarding proposed cuts to vital services like SNAP and Head Start, stating, “If things don’t stop or slow down, a lot of bad things could happen to the families I work with.”
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2025/06/people-protest-against-the-trump-administration-in-portland-and-across-the-nation.html
