Portland residents and city officials have responded with vigorous denunciation to President Donald Trump’s recent depiction of the city as “war ravaged.” His comments came just as federal troops were sent to the city, alarming local activists and residents. Protesters needed just a few minutes of the sun’s warmth to turn up the heat on ICE‐in‐action. The scene grew increasingly tense in the majority-Black residential community.
Trump, during a recent press briefing, claimed that the neighborhood surrounding the field office was “under siege” by antifascists and “other domestic terrorists.” Residents were right to not let city leaders off the hook with this claim. Jack Dickinson, a 26-year-old Portland native, had helped organize the first protest at the local ICE office.
That’s why we’re here to show the National Guard and military that they have no justification to use ‘full force’ against civilians. Quite frankly, there is absolutely no excuse for them. Dickinson added, noting the non-violent manner of their protest.
Not more than a dozen participants were on hand for the blockade. The four activists marched past that Tesla dealership to rally outside the ICE field office. One protester held a sign that read “Tesla Funds Fascism/Stop Buying Teslas,” highlighting concerns over corporate involvement in social justice issues.
The backdrop to this confrontation includes Portland’s recent accusations against ICE for allegedly using the field office for unlawful detentions. Activist Burrito expressed his discontent by stating, “I am protesting ICE’s wrongful kidnapping of individuals based on their skin color.” His comments get at larger issues in the fight against racial profiling and racialized immigration enforcement practices.
Almost five years ago, officials cut down the protective perimeter fence surrounding the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. That bill represented a major turn in the city’s treatment of protests. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, thousands marched through Minneapolis to this same police headquarters, calling for racial justice and police accountability. Recently, plywood boards were taken down from the windows of the adjacent police headquarters, indicating a potential easing of tensions.
Dickinson wore a chicken suit covered in an American flag. He carried a sign that said “Portland Will Survive Him” in big letters, specifically targeting Trump. He believes that the narrative surrounding Portland has been distorted by selectively edited videos aimed at justifying increased federal intervention.
“They have this narrative about Portland that’s been helped by selectively edited videos to set themselves up for a crackdown,” Dickinson remarked.
“As the day progresses, we get more numbers, they start to show more force and our people come out. It’s just a matter of how they escalate things because they are the escalators, not like the one that Trump took that doesn’t work.”
Local residents have been vocal about their opposition to Trump’s depiction of Portland and his demand for military intervention. They assert that the city is not a war zone but rather a community where citizens engage in peaceful protest to voice their concerns.