Thousands took to the streets of downtown Portland yesterday to express free speech in a large-scale gathering that concluded without major incident. The event, part of a nationwide series, started at Waterfront Park, where the crowd size prompted the closure of Southwest Naito Parkway, as detailed in a statement from the Portland Police Bureau.
At 1:30 PM, a sea of participants marched through the city’s downtown and inner eastside. To ensure public safety, the Portland Police Bureau took the measure to temporarily close down the Hawthorne Bridge and the Morrison Bridge to all vehicular traffic. Officers from the PPB, referred to as “Dialogue Officers,” worked in concert with march organizers to facilitate traffic control and guide the procession along the designated route…