Portland, Oregon — City officials and the Portland Police Bureau are making preparations for potential protests surrounding Inauguration Day next week, urging residents and demonstrators to express their views peacefully. At a news conference on Wednesday, Police Chief Bob Day, Mayor Keith Wilson, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, and Jordan Wiley from the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management all addressed the possibility of civil unrest and outlined their plans for ensuring public safety.
Mayor Wilson emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations, stating, “We cannot solve national issues with local street violence or vandalism,” and noting that unrest during previous presidential inaugurations does not reflect Portland’s values.
Chief Day announced that police would be increasing patrols, particularly in downtown and inner southeast Portland, through Tuesday. However, he expressed hope that these additional resources would not be necessary. “We do staff in anticipation of events like this because we have history that shows we’re at risk,” Chief Day said. “But going forward, we’re evolving all the time. There’s nothing here that there’s a playbook for. We’re building as we’re going.”
The Portland Police Bureau was on high alert during the 2024 election week, preparing for potential violence by deploying additional staff and federal resources. Despite these efforts, the protests that did occur remained peaceful, allowing the police to focus on regular operations. Chief Day highlighted this success, saying that response times had improved significantly, with fewer delayed calls and more resources available for follow-up investigations.
Unlike during election week, when boards and fencing went up throughout downtown as a precaution against looting and vandalism, the city has not seen similar preparations in anticipation of this month’s events. However, some Portland residents remain cautious about the potential increase in police presence.
Zackary Walker, a local resident, expressed concern about the expanded police deployment. “I personally never feel safe with more policing. I don’t feel like it helps,” Walker said. “After the election results came out, there were a bunch of boarded-up buildings, and that all seemed kind of unnecessary in the end.”
Michael Vorel, who lives downtown, noted that the atmosphere had calmed over the past four years. “I think it would be a little overboard to add additional help around here,” Vorel said.
While the prospect of protests and civil disobedience remains uncertain, Chief Day remained optimistic that Portland could handle the situation peacefully. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding the relationship between the police and the community. “Those experiences and beliefs are real, but I’m committed as Chief of Police to create space to explore our humanity in a different way—non-enforcement, non-chaotic, non-high stress situations,” Chief Day said. “We’re pretty tolerant of 10,000 people closing the Burnside Bridge. Those aren’t public safety events; those are community events. I welcome that kind of community leadership, that kind of community organizing.”
As the city braces for potential unrest, officials continue to call for peaceful demonstrations while balancing public safety and community trust.