Hawthorne Bridge to close ahead of Portland protest

Portland Protest June 2019

Multiple groups, including Rose City Antifa, the Proud Boys and conservative activist Haley Adams were protesting in downtown Portland on Saturday, June 29, 2019.Dave Killen/The Oregonian

Portland police have announced plans to close the Hawthorne Bridge early Saturday in advance of protests that are expected to bring hundreds to the city’s downtown waterfront.

Lt. Tina Jones, a police spokeswoman, said the Hawthorne Bridge will be closed to all traffic, including pedestrians, as early as 4 a.m. A stretch of Southwest Second Avenue will also close.

No other Willamette River bridge closures are planned, but police may close other bridges and roads if needed, according to a Multnomah County spokesman.

The closures will come before two Florida men with large followings in the right-wing movement hold an “End Domestic Terrorism” rally, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

An organizer said he expects up to 1,000 people to show up for the event, which seeks to draw like-minded people from around the country as a show of force against self-described anti-fascists, or antifa.

Rose City Antifa, Portland’s homegrown, amorphous band of anti-fascist activists, is calling on supporters to turn out in opposition to the rally.

Myriad other events are scheduled. They’re expected to draw hundreds of peaceful counter-protesters.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Chief Danielle Outlaw have promised a large turnout by police and have vowed to use the full force of the law against those who commit acts of violence and vandalism.

Other protest updates

  • START TIME: Police said demonstrators may begin to gather as early as 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
  • POLICE HELP: City officials have been working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to secure the officers and equipment necessary to respond. Portland police on Friday released a list of 27 public agencies and offices that are helping them in a variety of ways. The partners include the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon law enforcement agencies, city bureaus, TriMet and the mayor’s office. The Oregon National Guard isn’t on the list of partners.
  • NO PERMITS: No group has obtained a city permit for Saturday’s demonstrations, police said Friday morning.
  • MESSAGE FROM MAYOR: In a message to police Friday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote, “As Police Commissioner, my directions to the bureau continue to remain the same: Protect life, protect rights, uphold public safety, and enforce the law. I’ve been communicating regularly with the Chief and the leadership of PPB. I am confident in their leadership as well as the Incident Commander’s for tomorrow’s demonstrations. The Chief, myself and an unprecedented coalition of community members have been actively messaged the following: This is our city, this is our home - violence and hate have no place here. Tomorrow I will be at various briefings and will spend the day in a location designated for city leaders. Please be safe tomorrow and take care of yourself and one another. You have the entire city and the region standing with you as you sacrifice to protect our city, our home.”
  • JOEY GIBSON: Joey Gibson, leader of Vancouver-based right-wing group Patriot Prayer, turned himself in to the downtown Portland jail Friday in connection with charges linked to a May Day melee outside a Portland bar. Before entering the Multnomah County Detention Center, Gibson held a news conference outside the jail drawing about two dozen people. Wearing a hat with a label that read “what goes around comes around” and a t-shirt with Bible verse “John 3:16”, Gibson told spectators that he believed he was being unfairly targeted and he was innocent of engaging in or inciting any violence on May 1 outside of Cider Riot.
  • BOWING OUT: One right-wing group, the Oath Keepers, which is considered an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has said it won’t be participating in Saturday’s demonstration.
  • BUSINESSES CLOSE: Starbucks, Moonstruck Chocolate Company, Muji and Coco Donuts are among the businesses that have opted to close downtown stores Saturday rather than deal with possible protesters.
  • BUSES AND TRAINS: TriMet said transit riders should expect possible Saturday delays and “service adjustments” because of the protests.
  • NAITO CLOSURE: Northbound Southwest Naito Parkway will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Monday so crews can work before and after Saturday’s protests, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Shane Dixon Kavanaugh, Everton Bailey Jr. and Lizzy Acker of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report

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