Portland Protests: Organizer Arrested as Scores Fill the Streets

The organizer of several m Portland since the election of Donald Trump was arrested Monday while leading another demonstration. Gregory McKlevey was taken away as marchers refused to follow police orders to stay out of the streets.

High school students had gathered at Holladay Park near Lloyd Center Monday afternoon as part of the ongoing series of protests against the incoming Donald Trump administration. Portland Public Schools, meanwhile, had sent a letter warning parents about "outside" influencers.

The rally began at around 4:00 and within the hour more than 100 people had started marching to the West Side. It was organized by McKelvey's group, Portland's Resistance, and started at the park with activists speaking about the need to get involved beyond just protesting.

Also arrested was a woman who is McKelvey's partner

"We also want to make sure that protesting isn’t a one and done deal," organizers had said. "We do not want to tell people how to protest, but we urge everyone to avoid violence and destruction. Having restraint will exemplify our maturity and make our message stronger.

"We wish to begin paving a path of resistance that will continue throughout the next four years and beyond."

Rally organizers are very mindful of issues confronting them beyond what they are protesting.

Several marches recently have been hijacked by a violent element resulting in scores of arrests and more than $1 million in damage to businesses.

Gregory McKelvey, who started Portland's Resistance, told Patch last week that the goal is to get people to stay away from violence but - more importantly - to get people involved beyond just protesting.

“We want people to feel they are accomplishing something, that they are involved in working for change,” he says. “If we can’t get people involved beyond just protesting, if we can’t become politically active, then we’ve failed."

Portland Public Schools, meanwhile, is wary of McKelvey's group and others, sending a warning to parents on Sunday.

"While we support our students’ right to exercise their free speech, we want to notify you that our partners with the Portland Police Bureau approached us with concerns that there are some outside organizations encouraging students to participate in additional protests this week," they said in the email.

"The police are concerned about the safety of our students if they join any of these outside organizations in their demonstrations. We encourage open debate and dialogue, but in a non-violent manner."

Portland Police Spokesman Pete Simpson said the concern is in relation to the self-described anarchists group who "generally infiltrate the larger groups to use as cover."

It was that element that was believed responsible for the violence at previous marches.

The Portland Police Bureau, meanwhile, continues to investigate the protest that turned into a riot with cars and businesses being attacked.

Miguel Rebello, 21, was booked into jail on Sunday in charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after he turned himself in.

Rebello was captured on video attacking a car with a woman and two young children in it. While the car was damaged, the occupants were not injured.

Photo Portland Police