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Organizers of One Billion Rising, the worldwide protest to draw attention to issues of violence against women, are refusing to obtain a permit for their downtown march.
The march, a part of national V-Day observations, is scheduled to begin at 3 pm Thursday, Feb. 14 in Director Park. Women will be dancing in solidarity with other women who have been raped or abused.
The Portland Police Bureau is concerned by what will happen next: a march through downtown streets that will disrupt traffic. The police say they won't stop it, but they want to know where the march is going.
Organizers reportedly won't give those details until right before the march starts. They say on Facebook their march has expanded to include protest of a Portland police captain accused of inappropriately touching female employees.
The last major Portland march not to get a permit was an anti-austerity protest last November. That event culminated when police argued with marchers over which street they could use, then pepper-sprayed them.
WW is trying to reach One Billion Rising organizers for comment. Their Facebook post makes it clear that march organizers are focused on recent strife within the Police Bureau:
Here's the police statement:
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