Portland Mayor Cancels Hope March in Spat with Anti-Trump Protesters

A counter-protest was in the works after police arrested three activists.

Activist Gregory McKelvey addresses an anti-Trump march on Nov. 10, 2016. (Joe Riedl)

The mayor ain't marching anymore.

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has cancelled a "March of Hope" that was planned for this afternoon as an attempt to unify this city against acts of discrimination in the wake of Donald Trump's election.

The cancellation comes the morning after police arrested three of the organizers of Portland's anti-Trump protests—including prominent Black Lives Matter activist Gregory McKelvey—for allegedly telling student protesters to defy police orders.

The anti-Trump protest group, Portland's Resistance, said it would respond by protesting Hales' march today.

"Join us in holding signs denouncing the hypocrisy of Charlie Hales' march," organizers wrote, "and stand in solidarity with the peaceful protesters that have experienced police brutality in the past week, those incarcerated and those most impacted by inaction by our local government."

The mayor cancelled soon afterward, citing the planned counter-protest.

"Canceling this event does not mean our community is canceling hope," Hales said in a statement. "I encourage everyone to continue to reach out to each other and stand against hate."

Hales' spokesman could not immediately be reached for further comment.

Today's march was scheduled to begin at 3 pm near Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

UPDATE, 11:56 am: Portland's Resistance says it will still hold its counter-protest, called "We Won't March."

Update, 12:33 pm: McKelvey has released a statement claiming that Hales ordered his arrested because McKelvey refused to take part in the mayor's "March of Hope."

"When I declined he had to find another way to keep me from going to his march," McKelvey writes. "I was arrested for something completely false along with other Resistance organizers."

Hales' spokesman Brian Worley says that's nonsense.

"The mayor, as police commissioner, does not have the authority to direct Portland Police to arrest anyone," says Worley. "People are arrested for breaking laws. To claim the mayor would arrest people for political retaliation is not only inaccurate, it is dangerous."

Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Peter Simpson also rejected McKelvey's assertion.

"McKelvey, Stevens and Rhodes were arrested for their criminal behavior during the protest," Simpson says, "nothing more."

McKelvey says he'll fight the disorderly conduct charge.

"The police are spreading a false narrative that I was directing students to disobey lawful orders," he says in a statement. "This is a lie. I will plead not guilty and fight every single charge, even if reduced to a violation, in the courts."

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