Rival protests are planned Saturday in downtown Portland, which could draw several hundred people — and potential conflict — to a pair of parks near City Hall.
An offshoot of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer scheduled a #HimToo rally and their left-wing opponents plan to hold counter demonstrations.
The demonstrations once again provide an opportunity for rival political factions to confront each other in the center of the city, in this case only days after a failed attempt by Mayor Ted Wheeler to restrict violent protests that have become a fixture in Portland.
The ordinance, backed by Portland police and business groups, failed to garner enough votes in the City Council.
Activists panned the proposal, as did civil rights organizations and city leaders, who worried it would stifle free speech and give too much power to the mayor.
Many of these critics will take to the streets Saturday.
The Democratic Socialists of America have scheduled a rally in the Park Blocks outside the Portland Museum of Art starting at 11:30 a.m. and will march from there to Chapman Square, where Popular Mobilization has planned a demonstration.
Those two groups, which count an array of progressive Portlanders among its supporters, aim to bring together survivors of sexual violence and other marginalized individuals who organizers say often remain silent about their abuse or trauma.
The event is meant to counter the permitted #HimToo rally scheduled for 2 p.m. across the street at Terry Schrunk Plaza, which stands on federal property.
That demonstration, planned by activists aligned with Patriot Prayer and its leader Joey Gibson, seeks to draw attention to men who have been falsely accused of sexual attacks.
Like Gibson, the main organizer for the #HimToo rally, Haley Adams, has a conservative following that numbers in the thousands on social media.
Previous Patriot Prayer rallies in Portland have also been criticized for attracting members of the far-right fringe. They've included outspoken anti-Semites and Islamophobes, white nationalists and neo-Nazis.
Meanwhile, Rose City Antifa, a prominent antifascist group in Portland, has asked supporters to show up at Schrunk Plaza before the #HimToo rally begins.
Portland police and federal law enforcement will both be watching over the demonstrations, said Robert Sperling, a spokesman for the Federal Protective Services.
Sperling said federal agents will set up checkpoints and screen individuals who enter Schrunk Plaza. Those not participating in the #HimToo rally will be escorted out of the park, he said.
Sgt. Chris Burley, a Portland police spokesman, said officers in the area will attempt to prevent physical injuries or property damage.
The Portland Police Bureau on Friday published a news release that, in part, warned the public of the dueling demonstrations and reminded people of city codes and federal regulations. The agency said activity was set to start about 1 p.m. Saturday.
"The intent of law enforcement during this and all demonstration events is to provide a safe environment for all participants, non-participants, and community members while ensuring the peaceful exercise of the First Amendment," police said.
"To this end, there will be a law enforcement presence in the area of the demonstration. Persons attending any of the events should not bring any weapons or items that can be used as weapons to any of the events."
Read the bureau's full release here.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh
skavanaugh@oregonian.com
503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh
Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report