Police estimate as many as 50,000 turned out in Portland; nationwide, total attendance was well into the millions
By Alex Baumhardt, Mia Maldonado and Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle
Tens of thousands of Oregonians turned out on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, filling city streets and parks while marching in inflatable costumes and toting signs.
The protests, in dozens of cities large and small across Oregon, were part of a national day of protests that included more than 2,600 events and drew millions nationwide, according to organizers.
Organizers said there were nearly 7 million people at more than 2,700 events in all 50 states, according to a CNN report.
The Portland Police Bureau estimated between 40,000 and 50,000 protesters were present at the main protest in downtown Portland, with smaller satellite events throughout the city’s suburbs.
Protesters around the country demonstrated against the Trump administration’s efforts to send federalized National Guard troops to Portland and other cities. Federal courts have so far blocked those efforts in Portland.
Protesters included the Unpresidented Brass Band, out in big numbers in banana suits. The band is “more resolute” since its clarinet player was arrested at the Portland Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility Sunday, founder Miles Thompson said.
“We’re just just going to be safe and bring joy,” said Thompson, who started the band more than eight years ago.
More than 100 miles south, in Eugene, Ty Warren said he came out to protest because the country needs a visual display to indicate how upset people are with the direction Trump is taking the country. He scoffed at Republican depictions of No Kings Day as “hate America rallies.”
“It’s hard to say we’re hating America when you’ve got inflatable unicorns and frogs out here,” he said. “I see a lot of love. These people here probably love America more than Mike Johnson and Donald Trump do.”
Inflatable frog costumes have become a fixture of regular protests outside Portland’s ICE detention facility as Portlanders seek to use whimsy to refute Trump’s descriptions of their city as “war ravaged.” Those suits appeared in Salem and Eugene on Saturday, too.
Brenda Hodge drove from Vancouver to protest with her family and friends in Salem. They ordered frog hats online on Thursday in anticipation of wearing them at the rally.
“I’m out here because our Constitution is being trampled on,” Hodge said. “A lot of the rights of people that we have lived with for a long time are being taken away and there’s no due process for the immigrants that ICE is taking away.”
Dozens of counter-protesters met outside the Oregon Capitol, holding U.S. flags, signs depicting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot to death in Utah last month,and Make America Great Again memorabilia. Among them was Elisabeth Camara, who drove from Lake Oswego and held a sign saying “Hey Queen Kotek: No gas price increase!”
On Sept. 29, Oregon Democrats in a month-long special session garnered all the votes needed to pass a transportation bill that would raise $4.3 billion over the next 10 years to maintain state, city and county roads.
“A lot of people rejected this,” Camara said. “They passed it anyway, and (Kotek’s) going to sign it into law. I feel like they’re not doing what the people want.”
Back in Portland, at least 200 protestors gathered outside the ICE processing facility south of downtown after the No Kings march. Federal officers shot pepper balls at the crowd to clear a road in front of the building.
This story first appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Related story: No Kings day brings millions into US streets in anti-Trump protests (Oct. 18, 2025)
