Multiple May Day demonstrations took place Wednesday throughout Portland as part of statewide events. All events had a focus on immigrants' rights.
The group OccupyICEPDX hosted an event at Elizabeth Caruthers Park called #BlockTheWallPDX, calling for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
They marched to the ICE facility in southwest Portland where Homeland Security officers blocked access to the building.
Demonstrator Lilith Sinclair speaks at a May Day rally at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in southwest Portland Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
Meerah Powell / OPB
More than 100 demonstrators gathered at the event, including a small group of students from various high schools and middle schools, who participated in a walkout.
“I believe ICE is tearing apart families and deporting people who have made very important contributions to our society,” said Rod Such, one of the speakers at the event and a member of Occupation Free Portland. “It’s an agency that’s carrying out our awful, chauvinistic, racist immigration policy and it should be abolished.”
Such specifically called out G4S, a security firm that works with ICE and also has contracts with TriMet and with the city of Portland.
"We are urging everyone to contact the Portland City Council and say this contact should not be renewed," he said. "As a sanctuary city, we have no business contracting with a company that works with ICE."
Speakers also addressed workers’ rights, anti-racism and anti-fascism. People focused mostly on solidarity and community.
“Today is about the power of the workers and the power of the people and the people are here, and we have that power in this gathering right now,” said Lilith Sinclair, another demonstrator.
The rally met slight conflict from members of Patriot Prayer, the Vancouver-based group that attracts white supremacists and has engaged in violence.