A pro-Trump march on 82nd Ave
A pro-Trump march on 82nd Ave Doug Brown

It was national news this week when the 82nd Avenue of the Roses Parade was cancelled. The Multnomah County Republican Party planned to march in it, an anonymous email threatened to "shut it down" and "have two hundred or more people rush" the Republicans if they were allowed to march, and some right wingers promised to fight the left-wing "antifa" they believe were responsible for the threat.

After the cancellation, a group of Trump-loving right wingers organized a "March for free speech," and met at Montavilla Park around 10 am Saturday morning. They gathered in the fenced-off "futsal" field for short speeches. Left-wing protesters gathered around it and made noise. Armored-up police officers tried to separate the groups as much as possible. A number of helmet-wearing Trump supporters brought thick wooden sticks with zip-tied flags on them, looking ready for battle, and police made them put most of their sticks back in their cars.

Mayor Ted Wheeler made a brief appearance at the park, shaking hands with police officers and park rangers. He was teased and sworn at by a number of lefty protesters and dismissed by a number of right wingers. He left after a few minutes.

At the park, a Trump supporter carrying a baseball bat (quickly confiscated by police) tried to fight people, and yelled "fuck all you n****rs." He'd later give the Nazi salute. It should be noted that a number other Trump fans disavowed him and wouldn't let him into the futsal court were the first part of the rally was being held. It should also be noted that there were a number of open white nationalists in the crowd, including one wearing a "Germany" shirt who was enthusiastically ranting about "white genocide" in South Africa and his desire to have all white people in South Africa move to America because Black people, he said, are "naturally cannibals."

After some speeches in the court, the right wingers marched for more than two miles on the sidewalks down 82nd Ave. Protesters followed and mingled in the crowd. Armored-up cops from the Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County Sheriff's Office kept a watch the entire time during the march and tried to separate the two groups. There was pushing and a lot of yelling. At least three people, left wingers, were arrested today.

The march ended at a Burger King parking lot about 2.3 miles from Montavilla Park. The city used three TriMet busses to take people back to the park.

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Here are my photos and video from today.

A sign outside of the park
A sign outside of the park

Protesters goofing off
Protesters goofing off

A Trump-supporters sign. Mocking Jewish people.
A Trump-supporter's sign. Mocking Jewish people.

Police made those with large wooden flag poles put them back in their cars. This is a Trump supporters confederate flag.
Police made those with large wooden flag poles put them back in their cars. This is a Trump supporter's confederate flag.

More thick, wooden flagpoles Trump supporters brought
More thick, wooden flagpoles Trump supporters brought

Mayor Ted Wheeler showed up for a bit. He shook hands and got teased by protesters
Mayor Ted Wheeler showed up for a bit. He shook hands and got teased by protesters


A protester interrupting right-wing speeches with the megaphones siren
A protester interrupting right-wing speeches with the megaphone's siren


Patriot Prayers Joey Gibson, who organized the event
Patriot Prayer's Joey Gibson, who organized the event

An accordion player during the right-wing speeches
An accordion player during the right-wing speeches

A number of Trump fans wore helmets in anticipation of a fight
A number of Trump fans wore helmets in anticipation of a fight

This guy brought a baseball bat, wanted to fight protesters, yelled racial slurs, and gave the Nazi salute
This guy brought a baseball bat, wanted to fight protesters, yelled racial slurs, and gave the Nazi salute

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Police took the bat
Police took the bat

He yelled fuck all you n****rs
He yelled "fuck all you n****rs"

Riot cops followed the march closely and tried to separate the groups
Riot cops followed the march closely and tried to separate the groups

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Cops trying to separate the two groups:



Trump fans, marching
Trump fans, marching

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Trying to separate the groups
Trying to separate the groups


A MCSO cop pushed this guy down
A MCSO cop pushed this guy down

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A heavy police presence during the march
A heavy police presence during the march

Cops about to arrest a guy. I didnt see what for.
Cops about to arrest a guy. I didn't see what for.

A protester, arrested.
A protester, arrested.

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A MCSO cop grabbed this woman and, shortly later, me.
A MCSO cop grabbed this woman and, shortly later, me.

Protesters following the march
Protesters following the march

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Pro-Trump street preachers
Pro-Trump street preachers

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The march ended at a Burger King a couple miles from the park
The march ended at a Burger King a couple miles from the park

A Nazi salute
A Nazi salute

A number of right wingers called him out and criticized him
A number of right wingers called him out and criticized him

Street preachers insulted a trans person
Street preachers insulted a trans person


TriMet buses hauled much of the crowd back to the park
TriMet buses hauled much of the crowd back to the park