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Comment by truth on October 6, 2011 at 6:26pm

4000 so far at Portland Protest!

Comment by truth on October 6, 2011 at 4:45pm

Occupy Portland: Protesters gather at waterfront; Sam Adams issues ...

Demonstrators, many unified by feelings of social and economic injustice, are gathering in Portland on Thursday as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Loosely organized, Portland demonstrators say they plan to meet at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Burnside Bridge, then march through downtown Portland starting at noon. They are expected to gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square later in the day.

1:20 p.m.: Members of Portland's chapter of Veterans for Peace are gathered on Southwest Naito, waiting for the march.
Holding a flag and wearing a black "Veteran for Peace" beret, Harvey Thorstad said he's participating because he's disturbed that "our country is being taken over by corporations and the military is spending billions on the wars." He said a hundred of the group's members participated in a similar event in Washington, D.C.

Zeb Krieger , wearing a chicken suit and holding a sign that reads, "The sky is fallin" said he wants people to smile a bit amid the gloom. "We've got to change before the sky falls," Krieger said.

Crowds are swelling at Waterfront Park, with ralliers holding signs and shouting chants as cars drive by beeping their horns in solidarity.

Occupy Portland
» Follow The Oregonian's coverage of Thursday's Occupy Portland demonstration.

» Photos from Thursday's protest.

» Live stream from Occupy Portland.
1:18 p.m.: Jesse Firestone, 24, of Portland, says: "Mostly I'm out here because I find myself more frustrated with complacency and cynicism than being disorganized. It's better to be out here than doing nothing at all. ... There is no singular thing people are frustrated with. I think that people trying to distill that frustration down to a single thing is why I'm here. ... It's impossible for people to get unbiased information from any source unless they get it themselves."

1:05 p.m.: From Oregonian reporter Maxine Bernstein: Julie Mainwaring and Jennifer Lohse are headed to the demonstration. Mainwaring said she was spurred on by her friend's 80-year-old mother who told her "This could be the start of something huge." Lohse said she's coming to learn more, excited by the possibilities of a grass-roots movement. "I know it's about money. I know it's about Wall Street. I know I have little say about both as a middle-class American," Lohse said.

12:57 p.m.: From Oregonian videographer Joel Odom: "Who are we? We're the 99%," the demonstrators chant at #OccupyPortland.

12:49 p.m.: From Oregonian reporter Eliot Njus: #occupyportland protesters using "people's mic" to communicate. Speaker yells, others repeat so everyone can hear. "This is a nonviolent protest," says one speaker. "I love you all." #occupyportland

12:42 p.m. From Twitter: Portland Police are looking forward to a safe and peaceful event. #occupyportland #staysafe

12:15 p.m.
At the waterfront: Hundreds of people are milling at the Saturday Market fountain area near the Burnside Bridge. They're dressed for the cool, cloudy day. Young and old alike. Many are toting signs: "End the Fed" is a popular sentiment. Others read: "Greed is Bad," "Politicians are your enemy." "Fight greed."

10:55 a.m.: Portland Mayor Sam Adams released this statement Thursday morning:

A group called Occupy Portland has announced plans to peacefully assemble in Waterfront Park today at noon, march through downtown, and ultimately occupy a downtown park or other location. The Occupy Wall Street movement started in New York City and "Occupy" events like these have happened