Report on Sunday's Free Gaza protest in Portland, one of hundreds held worldwide

Around 250 people gathered Sunday afternoon in downtown Portland. The protesters were mainly from Portland's Arab-American community. Supporters from the peace and justice community were also present at the protest, which crowded the sidewalks on both sides of the street for nearly two blocks.

Portland Protest on Sunday

Protesters chanted "stop killing children!" "Occupation is a crime, from Iraq to Palestine!" And "the media is lying, while Gazan kids are dying!" The demonstrators marched around the square several times during the 2 hours of protest. Many held homemade signs, some of which read, "Massacre in Gaza: Made in USA!" And "end US Support for Israel" and "ceasefire now."

The ages of the protesters ranged from families with small babies to elderly couples shivering in the bitter cold and snow that started falling halfway through the event.

A teenage Palestinian girl lead the crowd with a megaphone and her own original chants, including "free our village, free our land." Other Arab-American youth followed her lead and started their own chants in Arabic and English.

In Arabic, protesters chanted, "people of Gaza, we sacrifice for you", and "from Ramallah to Gaza, people of Gaza stand proud."

Several local TV stations were present at the beginning of the protest, but protesters challenged their presence, given the one-sided presentation of the Tuesday protest by Channel 6, which only showed a few seconds of the protest (which they vastly undercounted), followed by an interview with the head of Portland's Jewish Federation, who blamed Israel's massacre on the democratically-elected Hamas party.

The protest was lively and spirited despite the cold, and many cars honked, expressing support. In the later part of the protest, some of the Arab-American youth drove cars around the square waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags out of the windows and sunroofs, honking and chanting in Arabic and English.

Only one dissenter showed up, with an Israeli flag over one shoulder, and a US flag on the other. He took one look at the crowd, and slunked away without a word.

The protest ended with a call for future action and organization, including a planned meeting for a boycott/divestment campaign in Portland. Protesters vowed to return again and keep the pressure on, as long as Israel continues to violate international law.

Pictures of Portland Sunday protest below.

Portland Protest on Sunday

Portland Protest on Sunday

Portland Protest on Sunday

Portland Protest on Sunday