Five years after George Floyd's death, Portland rallies for racial justice

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- In May 2020, the death of George Floyd set off protests around the country. For more than 100 consecutive nights in Portland, they often ended with clashes between police and protesters.

Now five years later, a rally was held Saturday at Revolution Hall, the culmination of a whole nine days of action by a local racial justice coalition to remember Floyd's life and legacy.

This rally was very different than others seen in Portland over the years. When asked why protests in Portland have become more quiet as of late, participant Karen Wells weighed in.

"I think Portland is under a lot of stress, a lot of stress," she said. "The threat of federal funding being withdrawn from a variety of agencies that provide support is dire on everyone's mind. The reality of funding being pulled from the arts and theater communities that serve the Black and brown, Indigenous communities is a real problem."

'A lot that has happened in the last five years'

Rally organizers with the We Are The Bridge coalition also carried another message, bringing together over 30 local organizations to call for more accountability from city and business leaders to further address racial justice.

Cameron Whitten, Founder and CEO of racial justice nonprofit Brown Hope, stressed that issues affecting any city - such as economic uncertainty or violence - will continue to disproportionally affect BIPOC populations if nothing changes.

"When the economy is lagging, guess who's losing their job first and guess who's getting evicted first? We're talking about Black, brown and Indigenous communities. When we're talking about fentanyl or the opioid crises, guess who's most directly impacted? Black, brown and Indigenous communities," he noted. "I just want to make sure that if folks say they're an ally, if these leaders say that they believe in racial justice that they don't turn their backs when Black organizations are calling for change and action."

Whitten further added it's "shocking" that there still is a lack of conversation around continued issues impacting BIPOC individuals.

"One of the main reactions I've gotten as we've talked about holding 'We Are The Bridge' are people saying they're surprised it's been five years," Whitten said. "We shouldn't be talking about how much time its been. We should be talking about what's happening in our towns and what are we doing to actually live by our principles of racial liberation and racial equality."

After 90 minutes of speakers including faith leaders, elected officials, labor leaders and civil rights leaders, organizers said the march will stop at the Burnside Bridge where a moment of silence will be held for Floyd.

This will recreate a moment which happened at the same location on the city's fifth night of protests on June 2, 2020, when thousands who marched across the Burnside Bridge stopped to lie face down on the ground for nine minutes of silence — the same amount of time as former officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck.

"There's been a lot that has happened in the last five years," Whitten noted. "I know myself and other Black leaders feel a level of distrust and feel a level of betrayal because we saw so much media attention. But we also saw elected leaders and allies taking action and speaking up loudly for racial justice and we have gone backwards in a way that has been so demoralizing."

He continued, "So this, today, is an event for hope."