On April 4, Portlanders gathered at Wilshire Park for a march towards Mayor Keith Wilson’s house. The protest was put on by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones, calling for Mayor Wilson to revoke the ICE permit in Portland.
Hours before the march, however, Wilson was scheduled to be in downtown Portland for a district four budget meeting. Organizers at the event explained they hoped to meet Mayor Wilson on his way home, although a The Daily Emerald reporter at the budget meeting observed Wilson leave before the scheduled 12 p.m. ending time. It is unclear whether he went home after the district four meeting.
Cami Saunders, the media liaison for PDXCD, explained that the protest was intended to pressure the mayor to take action against ICE raids and deportations.
“We marched to Mayor Keith Wilson’s house today to let him know that there is not going to be peace at his home and business as usual while he is allowing ICE to terrorize not only immigrants in Portland, but the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood as well,” Saunders said.
She added that it felt “convenient” for Mayor Wilson not to be home during the protest, adding that during their February demonstration at his house, Wilson was also absent.
“I think it’s really interesting that the mayor is so dedicated to not facing the people,” Saunders said. “You know, we are happy to keep up the pressure on him in any way we can. If that means he has to rearrange his Saturday to not be home, I’m okay with that.”
Elizabeth Bender and Mandy Brice, two attendees at the protest, shared a similar sentiment. Explaining that they have been disappointed and upset at the presence of ICE agents in Portland.
“It feels nice to be around people who think the same and can shout and be outside in the sun,” said Bender. “I work with a lot of people that are being affected by this and I try to come out as many things as I can.”
The protest went on for approximately three hours, bringing out a crowd of 40 protestors who chanted, drew with chalk on sidewalks and at one point broke a glass container full of gas canisters in front of Mayor Wilson’s house.
