#NoKings - A Peaceful Event
“Portland police maintained a presence downtown Saturday and warned of traffic delays and street closures but told KGW that all events have been peaceful. No arrests have been made, or crimes have been committed.”
— Report from kgw.com for the June 14th #NoKings event in downtown Portland at the time of this writing
My experience of the #NoKings event matched today’s news reporting. It was a good peaceful day of like-minded, seemingly ordinary people getting together to peacefully advocate for changes in our government. [Update: As I’m hitting “publish,” there was a gathering of about 200 people, later classified as a riot at the ICE facility in Portland at 6:30pm, well after the majority of the day’s attendees left the area.]
Note: all photos in this post were taken by me.
Excellent turnout
Overall, the day’s events seemed to go well. According to the Oregon Public Broadcasting, 10,000 people showed up to Tom McCall Waterfront Park today. You can see many behind me in this crowd.
And there were also many in front of me, too!
On message
Overall, the crowd was “on message” as the catalyst for this demonstration was the military parade in Washington, DC today. Of course, on the practical side was a whole set of messaging about the fiscal irresponsibility of a military parade in light of the current OBBBA (one, big beautiful bill act) budget cuts to Medicaid.
And, there was also the relevant messaging about the optics of a military parade in the United States, as this type of display has been associated with one more typical of a Soviet or North Korean regime.
Respectful of civil liberties
The protest messaging was also appreciative of the civil liberties we enjoy in America to speak out against the government, as appropriate. This particular message of “not left vs. the right” resonated with me.
The clear distinction between protest and insurrection was also a good reminder.
Democracy just involves a lot of voices, and these crowds were a demonstration of what democracy looks like.
Displays of the American Flag and the Constitution
Protesters were clearly showing their support for the American system and its continuation. While our government may need to make some changes, there is support for the system itself. The flags were flying.
Different reminders of the U.S. The Constitution offered a clear reminder of its underlying concepts, including the separation of powers.
Gratitude for competencies
There was also recognition for things that were going right in America and that just needed more care. There was an expressed value in competency.
Some protesters advocated for specific causes like science and the National Institute of Health.
In addition, protesters thanked Harvard, key politicians, and members of the media.
Education
Others tried to do some education, perhaps too much for signage. One example was information about a GI Rights hotline.
Another was for the Posse Comitatus Act, restricting the use of the military to enforce domestic policy, particularly relevant since the U.S. Marines were deployed to Los Angeles.
Anti-Trump Sentiment
I don’t want to focus too much on this, but this reporting wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some clear anti-Trump sentiment among protesters. There was also significant opposition to the immigration enforcement of the Trump administration.
Humor
This particular sign about introverts made me smile. I agreed with this one. There were several other very humorous signs!
Demonstration Tip: Music
For those going to future demonstrations, don’t forget to bring your tunes. You can listen to background music to the chants as we march.
The background track was provided by one of the protesters who pulled a wagon.
Friendly Law Enforcement
The Portland Police Bureau was present but very friendly. I took a few photos of smiling officers just watching along. Notice these police officers smiling behind a sign about Pete Hegseth.
These officers were waving to people at the end of the March.
Firemen were also waiting on the sidelines to help people in need.
Short and sweet
Overall, Google Maps indicated that I was out marching for about 1.5 hours.
And from there, a bunch of people went to the Portland Saturday Market to get Twisted New Zealand style ice cream!
Then, it was a quick walk home.
[Update: I, like most of the other protesters, fortunately missed the follow-on riot activity later in the evening.]
Why do we do this?
This is just a reminder that 3.5 percent of the population is what it takes to ensure political change.
“Looking at hundreds of campaigns over the last century, [Harvard professor Erica] Chenoweth found that nonviolent campaigns are twice as likely to achieve their goals as violent campaigns. And although the exact dynamics will depend on many factors, she has shown it takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in the protests to ensure serious political change.”
— Source: BBC
The corresponding TedX talk is here:
Today’s event made me optimistic that we can get there.