Thousands of Portlanders flooded into Pioneer Courthouse Square on May 1 to celebrate May Day, AKA International Worker's Day, and more generally, protest cruel and unlawful actions by the Trump administration.
Sandwiched between two nearby gatherings, the Pioneer Square event was brief, running from 4:30-6 pm. It drew those attending an earlier march at Portland State University, swelling to fill the square; at its height, there appeared to be two or three thousand people packed in on the brick steps, or standing and waving signs.
Groups began to peel off around 5:30 pm, when speeches by local leaders concluded and organizers played Woodie Guthrie's "Union Maid" over the loudspeaker. Some headed up to a third meet-up—this time at Terry Schrunk Plaza—which had been organized by Portland Association of Teachers.
There are a few more May Day gatherings planned—including a large rally on the South Waterfront—for the weekend. Check our round-up of May Day events for more.
