Portland Mayor Keith Wilson on Sunday said attendance at the “No Kings” protest against Donald Trump at an estimated 50,000 people.

“An estimated 50,000 Portlanders marched together in solidarity and protest yesterday, joining demonstrations from across the nation,” Wilson said. “We celebrate all those who peacefully and powerfully raised their voices against federal overreach, which are deeply held values in both Portland and our nation.”

Unlike violent clashes that occurred downtown during the first Trump administration, the crowd late Saturday morning was peaceful, if persistent. Signs denounced Trump’s actions curtailing what protesters call Democratic norms, with a focus on his anti-immigrant statements, roundups of immigrants here both illegally and legally, and the decision to put the National Guard and U.S. Marines on the streets of Los Angeles.

“Democratic norms of our society are collapsing,” said Portlander Kell Fox. “Dissent is necessary to stop it. This is the only thing that might do it.”

Cynthia Maunes of Portland is the daughter of two Filipino immigrants. “My folks worked really hard to get here,” she said. “I’m doing this for them.”

Emily Polanshek of Portland stood on Southwest Nato Parkway with a “No Kings” sign as passing motorists honked in support. In 1973, at the age of 20, Polanshek was in Chile and watched the military overthrow Democratic Socialist President Salvador Allende and his Popular Unity coalition government. “People say it can’t happen here? It can happen here,” she said.

“And if the use of military for law enforcement becomes accepted, we’ll be in for a period of no more elections,” Polanshek added, referencing Trump’s use of U.S. Marines in Los Angeles.

“I’m here in reaction to the news,” said Tamara Markham of Portland.

“It’s heartbreaking what’s going on in this country. I taught school. We taught the Constitution,” she said, pausing. “I’m sorry. This brings tears to my eyes.”

She explained that her emotions come from her years teaching in Forest Grove, where many of her students were the children of immigrant farmworkers.

Speaking over the lyrics of Bob Marley’s 1973 protest anthem, “Get Up Stand Up,” Carol Hoekstra of Milwaukie said no one action of the Trump administration led her to braving a surprisingly cold, windy June day in Portland. “Just everything that’s happening. The daily barrage of bad news,” she said.

Angie Kraute, also of Milwaukie, said seeing the size crowd felt energizing. “It feels oddly powerless lately. This is important; to get out and use your voice,” she said.

This was the first protest for Cleo Laney, but to be fair, she just turned 6 months old. Cleo was there with her mom, Megan Laney of Portland. “I had plans for this morning, but I was like: I gotta get down there!” Laney said.

She said protests can be a powerful tool. “Immigrants, women, they should hear this. It’s important to be here. To say ‘No.’”

Peak Portland

For all the anger and fear regarding the Trump administration, the Saturday protest also drew several funny and irreverent signs.

And it contained some classic “Portland-nice” elements. A cluster of protesters hopped off the No. 54 TriMet bus with their hand-painted signs, taking mass transit to a mass uprising. Other protesters stopped to get a coffee to go. Protesters even waited for walk signs before crossing streets.

State Rep. Zach Hudson, a Democrat who represents portions of Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, Gresham and Portland, recited a spoken-word poem poking jest at the administration.

One protester, Tim Hart of Portland, made fun of his usual lack of activism, holding a sign that read, “This is so bad, even I showed up.”

“It takes a lot to get me to one of these,” Hart said. “I care. But I care from home.”

One masked, black-clad protester tried to rile up some violence, in the form of the “antifa v. Proud Boys” battles that rocked pre-pandemic Portland. He wove through the crowd, trying to get violence stirred up.

Other protesters laughed him off.