March for Our Lives Portland explained

March for Our Lives Portland
Location:Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Also Known As:March for Our Lives Portland, OR
Type:Protest march
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March for Our Lives Portland (officially March for Our Lives Portland, OR)[1] was a protest held in Portland, Oregon, as part of March for Our Lives, a series of rallies and marches in Washington, D.C., and more than 800 cities across the world on March 24, 2018. Students organized the event, which included a march from the North Park Blocks to Pioneer Courthouse Square where a rally featured speakers, a performance by rock band Portugal. The Man, and a surprise appearance by rapper Black Thought of hip-hop band The Roots. The protest was the city's largest since the January 2017 Women's March on Portland; the Portland Police Bureau estimated a crowd size of 12,000.

Background

March for Our Lives was a student-led demonstration in support of a tightening of U.S. gun control laws on March 24, 2018, in Washington, D.C., with more than 800 sibling events throughout the United States and around the world.[2] [3] [4] Student organizers from Never Again MSD planned the march in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Everytown for Gun Safety.[5] The event followed the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, which many media outlets described as a possible tipping point for gun control legislation.[6] [7] [8]

Protesters urged the introduction of universal background checks on gun sales, the raising of the federal minimum age for gun ownership and possession to 21, the closure of the gun show loophole, the restoration of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines in the U.S.[9] Turnout across the country was estimated at between 1.2 to 2 million people,[10] [11] [12] making it one of the largest protests in American history.[13]

Local organizers and planning

Local student organizers included: Eliana Andrews; Alyssa Diaz;[14] Zoe Dumm; Alexandria Goddard;[15] [16] Finn Jacobson; Calum Nguyen;[17] Sophie Rupp;[18] Ryan Tran; Kien Truong;[19] Tyler White;[20] and Ellie Younger.[21] [22] [23] [24]

According to the Portland Police Bureau, organizers obtained proper permits for the demonstration.[25] The rally was scheduled to start at 10am and end by 2pm.[19] [26] The Portland-based rock band Portugal. The Man contacted organizers and offered to help,[23] [21] [27] and practiced with a local choir prior to the concert.[28] On the event's Facebook page in the lead-up to the event, around 9,000 people indicated plans to attend,[19] and approximately 20,000 people had expressed interest in participating.[21] [29]

The Portland Bureau of Transportation planned to close all lanes of West Burnside Street from Broadway to 9th Avenue, as well as Southwest Broadway from Burnside to Yamhill Street, from approximately 10:30am to noon. The agency and event organizers also encouraged attendees and other downtown visitors to use public transit and to expect delays in the vicinity of the march route.[29] [30] The MAX Light Rail stations Pioneer Square South and Pioneer Square North were temporarily closed, and several bus lines had detours for a few hours.[18] Online taxi firm Lyft offered march participants free rides in Portland and 49 other U.S. cities.[31] [32]

The route of the march was decided upon by event organizers and police, and plans to have safety monitors present were made.[18]

Demonstration

Participants gathered at the North Park Blocks and marched to Pioneer Courthouse Square via Burnside and Broadway.[17] [21] [30] The rally began on time; protestors started marching at 10:30am.[17] The march route was less than NaNmile long and lasted approximately 90 minutes.[15] [21] [33]

At Pioneer Courthouse Square, organizers held a moment of silence and rang a bell 17 times to commemorate victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Starting around 11:30am,[16] eight local students ranging in age from grades 8 to 12 delivered speeches and performed songs and poems advocating gun control and school safety.[15] [33] [34] They encouraged attendees to vote, remain politically active, and hold their politicians accountable.[15] [16] [35] KOIN described the students' speeches as "articulate, informed, engaging and captivating".[16]

Portugal. The Man performed "So American", "Feel It Still", and Oasis "Don't Look Back in Anger", and gave a "rousing" performance of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" with a choir of students from Vernon Elementary School. Lead singer and guitarist John Gourley said March for Our Lives' mission is nonpartisan. Rapper Black Thought of The Roots made an onstage surprise appearance with the band.

The protest was Portland's largest since the Women's March on Portland in January 2017, with more than 10,000 participants.[36] The Portland Police Bureau's Traffic Division estimated 12,000 people attended. Event organizers said there were between 20,000 and 25,000 demonstrators. The Oregonian reported a crowd estimate of 12,000, and noted the presence of all age groups. Willamette Week said "tens of thousands" of people were in attendance and described the crowd as "massive and diverse", consisting of "families, teachers, grandparents and groups of students of all ages".

Counter-protestors, including members of Patriot Prayer,[33] were present but the event was peaceful.[17] [19] Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer, U.S. representatives for Oregon's 1st and 3rd congressional districts, respectively, participated in the march.[16] [19] Also in attendance were 15 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School alumni living in Portland and teachers from Umpqua Community College, where nine people were killed in a mass shooting in 2015.[34]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March for Our Lives Portland, OR. Facebook. March 25, 2018.
  2. News: Across the United States . . March 22, 2018 . Carlsen . Audrey . Patel . Jugal . March 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324054527/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/22/us/politics/march-for-lives-demonstrations.html . March 24, 2018 . live .
  3. News: Take assault-weapons ban to the people . . March 21, 2018 . Editorial . March 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224612/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/take-assault-weapons-ban-to-the-people/ . March 24, 2018 . live .
  4. These Photos Show How Big the March for Our Lives Crowds Were Across the Country . Langone . Alix . March 25, 2018 . Time . March 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180325160653/http://time.com/5214706/march-for-our-lives-us-photos/ . March 25, 2018 . live .
  5. News: American teens demand 'Never Again'. Cooper. Kelly-Leigh. February 18, 2018. BBC News. https://web.archive.org/web/20180218214940/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43105699. February 18, 2018. live. February 18, 2018. mdy-all.
  6. News: 'We will be the last mass shooting': Florida students want to be tipping point in gun debate . Miller . Sarah . February 17, 2018 . . March 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180326211327/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/17/we-last-mass-shooting-florida-students-might-tipping-point-gun-debate/347992002/ . March 26, 2018 . live .
  7. The Fearless, Outraged Young Protesters at the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. . Petrusich . Amanda . Peterson . Mark . March 24, 2018 . . March 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180326063715/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-march-for-our-lives-photographs-from-washington-dc . March 26, 2018 . live .
  8. Teachers Are Fighting for Gun Control After Parkland . Reilly . Katie . February 21, 2018 . . March 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180328142120/http://time.com/5167305/florida-shooting-teachers-gun-control-activism/ . March 28, 2018 . live .
  9. News: Everything You Need to Know About the March for Our Lives. Valentine. Claire. March 24, 2018. Paper. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324042646/http://www.papermag.com/march-for-our-lives-rally-2551821925.html. March 24, 2018. live. March 24, 2018.
  10. News: The odds that a gun will kill the average American may surprise you. Business Insider. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084627/http://www.businessinsider.com/us-gun-death-murder-risk-statistics-2018-3. March 27, 2018. live.
  11. News: More than 2 million joined March for Our Lives protests in 90 percent of U.S. voting districts. March 26, 2018. Newsweek. March 26, 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327000904/http://www.newsweek.com/march-our-lives-how-many-2-million-90-voting-district-860841. March 27, 2018. live.
  12. Web site: Yesterday's global roar for gun control. Axios.com. 25 March 2018 . en. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326011636/https://www.axios.com/march-for-our-lives-on-the-ground-pennsylvania-avenue-81881f02-8c51-4367-9379-ed1760cbe441.html. March 26, 2018. live.
  13. News: It's official: March for Our Lives was one of the biggest youth protests since the Vietnam War. Vox. German. Lopez. March 26, 2018. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326152833/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/26/17160646/march-for-our-lives-crowd-size-count. March 26, 2018. live.
  14. News: Students in Portland preparing for Saturday's March for Our Lives rally. Haley. Rush. March 23, 2018. KPTV. March 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327054226/http://www.kptv.com/story/37798569/students-in-portland-preparing-for-saturdays-march-for-our-lives-rally. March 27, 2018. live.
  15. News: Herron. Elise. "Enough Is Enough": Thousands of Teenagers March Through Downtown Portland, Demanding Gun Control and an End to School Shootings. March 25, 2018. Willamette Week. City of Roses Newspapers. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324235843/http://www.wweek.com/news/2018/03/24/enough-is-enough-thousands-of-teenagers-march-through-downtown-portland-demanding-gun-control-and-an-end-to-school-shootings/. March 24, 2018. live.
  16. News: Portland 'March for Our Lives': Times are a-changing. March 25, 2018. KOIN. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324210335/http://www.koin.com/news/civic-affairs/march-for-our-lives-comes-to-portland-salem-vancouver/1074960357. March 24, 2018. live.
  17. News: Thousands attend March for Our Lives rally in downtown Portland. March 25, 2018. KPTV. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324235314/http://www.kptv.com/story/37800940/thousands-attend-march-for-our-lives-rally-in-downtown-portland. March 24, 2018. live.
  18. News: Organizers make final preps for Portland March for Our Lives event. March 23, 2018. KATU. March 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327035944/http://katu.com/news/local/organizers-make-final-preps-for-portland-march-for-our-lives-event. March 27, 2018. live.
  19. News: Sparling. Zane. Promises of change made at 'March for Our Lives'. March 26, 2018. Portland Tribune. Pamplin Media Group. March 24, 2018. 46708462. https://web.archive.org/web/20180328171347/https://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/390468-281982-march-for-our-lives-to-draw-1000s-to-portland-on-saturday. March 28, 2018. live.
  20. Roewe. Brian. Catholic students 'ignited' to help organize local March for Our Lives. National Catholic Reporter. March 30, 2018. April 18, 2018. 0027-8939. https://web.archive.org/web/20180419183339/https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/catholic-students-ignited-help-organize-local-march-our-lives. April 19, 2018. live.
  21. News: Campuzano. Eder. March for Our Lives Portland: Thousands flood the streets as students demand stricter gun control. March 25, 2018. The Oregonian. Advance Publications. March 24, 2018. 8750-1317. https://web.archive.org/web/20180325000208/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/03/march_for_our_lives_portland_12000_show_up_for_gun_control.html. March 25, 2018. live.
  22. News: Campuzano. Eder. March for Our Lives Portland: Students, attendees sound off. March 26, 2018. The Oregonian. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180325050334/http://www.oregonlive.com/expo/erry-2018/03/642cd8a626/march_for_our_lives_portland_s.html. March 25, 2018. live.
  23. News: Watch: Portgual [sic]. The Man performs at Portland March for Our Lives]. March 27, 2018. KGW. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180328164938/http://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/watch-portgual-the-man-performs-at-portland-march-for-our-lives/283-531804645. March 28, 2018. live.
  24. 'We Have Had Enough': 37 Students on Why This March—And This Moment—Matters. March 28, 2018. March 24, 2018. Glamour. Jessica. Militare. Khaliha. Hawkins. Tess. Kornfeld. Samantha. Leach. Abby. Gardner. Condé Nast. 0017-0747. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121926/https://www.glamour.com/story/37-students-why-march-matters. March 29, 2018. live.
  25. News: Guevarra. Ericka Cruz. Pacific Northwest Students Join Nationwide March For Our Lives. March 26, 2018. Oregon Public Broadcasting. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180325052223/https://www.opb.org/news/article/march-for-our-lives-portland-oregon-vancouver-olympia-eugene/. March 25, 2018. live.
  26. News: March for Our Lives events scheduled across Oregon and Southwest Washington. March 26, 2018. KATU. March 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180328084559/http://katu.com/news/local/march-for-our-lives-events-scheduled-across-oregon-and-southwest-washington. March 28, 2018. live.
  27. News: Kisiel. Katherine. 'We're here to support the kids': Portugal. the Man plays Portland's March For Our Lives. April 9, 2018. KATU. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326214324/http://katu.com/news/local/were-here-to-support-the-kids-portugal-the-man-plays-portlands-march-for-our-lives. March 26, 2018. live.
  28. News: English. Joe. Portland-based Portugal. the Man joins students for 'March for Our Lives' on Saturday. April 18, 2018. KATU. March 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180325054345/http://katu.com/news/local/portland-grammy-winners-portugal-the-man-join-weekend-march-for-our-lives-pioneer-square-noon. March 25, 2018. live.
  29. News: Campuzano. Eder. Portland March for Our Lives: What you need to know about the protest for gun reform. April 9, 2018. March 23, 2018. The Oregonian. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326051630/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/03/march_for_our_lives_what_to_expect_portland.html. March 26, 2018. live.
  30. Web site: Loose. Travis. March for Our Lives Rally Expects Thousands in Portland. Patch.com. 23 March 2018 . Patch Media. March 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180325054341/https://patch.com/oregon/portland/march-our-lives-rally-expects-thousands-portland. March 25, 2018. live.
  31. News: Moreno. Julie. Lyft to offer free rides to 'March for Our Lives' attendees. March 27, 2018. KSAT-TV. March 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121721/https://www.ksat.com/news/lyft-to-offer-free-rides-to-march-for-our-lives-attendees. March 29, 2018. live.
  32. News: Weaver. Jennifer. Lyft is offering free rides for March for Our Lives attendees across the nation. March 27, 2018. KUTV. March 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323082926/http://kutv.com/news/local/free-lyft-rides-for-march-for-our-lives-attendees-available-in-salt-lake-city. March 23, 2018. live.
  33. News: Vaughan. Anamika. March for Our Lives draws thousands of Portlanders. April 18, 2018. Daily Vanguard. Portland State University. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180419124007/https://psuvanguard.com/march-for-our-lives-draws-thousands-of-portlanders/. April 19, 2018. live.
  34. News: Thousands take to Portland streets in March for Our Lives. March 25, 2018. KATU. March 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324210911/http://katu.com/news/local/march-for-our-lives-event-to-wind-through-downtown-portland. March 24, 2018. live.
  35. News: Hanson. Nate. 'We're coming for you': Students call out lawmakers during March for Our Lives speeches. KGW. March 24, 2018. April 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180408133555/http://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/were-coming-for-you-students-call-out-lawmakers-during-march-for-our-lives-speeches/283-531835571. April 8, 2018. live.
  36. News: Wilson. Reid. More than a million people participated in March for Our Lives protests. March 26, 2018. The Hill. March 26, 2018. 1521-1568. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326214150/http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/380321-more-than-a-million-people-participated-in-anti-gun-violence-marches. March 26, 2018. live.

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