politics

1 Of Portland's Most Prominent Protestors Is Moving On

By Geoff Norcross (OPB)
Portland, Ore. Aug. 6, 2018 7:15 p.m.
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Gregory McKelvey of Portland's Resistance addresses a crowd of supporters Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, at a rally on the Portland Waterfront.

Gregory McKelvey of Portland's Resistance addresses a crowd of supporters Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, at a rally on the Portland Waterfront.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

One of the most prominent figures in Portland’s protest culture over the past couple of years is moving on.

Gregory McKelvey is an organizer of the group Portland’s Resistance — the people behind the days of protests after the election of Donald Trump.

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McKelvey is moving to Atlanta to run communications and advocacy for Living Room, which helps secure housing for people with HIV/AIDS. But he’s leaving the door open to coming back to Portland, eventually.

He says the opportunity in Atlanta offered a potential for growth.

“I felt like maybe I might be able to progress my skills and talents somewhere else, and be able to bring them back here to seek change for this community in the future.”

He says despite his departure, Portland’s Resistance will carry on.

“I will be able to just take a step back and focus, on the big picture, not the daily things Portland’s Resistance has to do, but really like wider policy issues and how I can tackle them when I get back.”

He joined OPB's "Morning Edition" host Geoff Norcross to talk about Portland’s Resistance, police accountability, affordable housing and his future across the country. Listen to their full conversation by clicking play on the audio player above.

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