Protestors blocked a Portland street Friday afternoon to throw buckets of fake blood in front of the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters to demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
They dumped gallons of fake blood on a Southwest Portland street.
The protest, put together by Extinction Rebellion PDX, OccupyICEPDX, the Portland Sanctuary Coalition and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, was named El Rio de Sangre, or the River of Blood to demonstrate against deaths at the Rio Grande and for those coming to the border, such as the father and daughter who recently drowned trying to cross it. The blood also symbolized “the bloodshed of the U.S.’s racist immigration policies,” activists said.
The protestors also said they were highlighting the impacts of climate change that they said is driving migrants up to over the southern border. People in Central America are migrating to escape the drought causing hunger in the area, according to NBC News.
“We believe the U.S. has a big responsibility as the biggest contributor to carbon emissions globally,” said Cassia Gammill, an activist from Extinction Rebellion PDX. “We caused the climate crisis, and we need to take responsibility. Punishing the people who are suffering for it is wrong.”
Protestors in white with “ICE” painted on held signs that said “Climate Justice = Immigration Justice,” and “ICE has blood on its hands,” and blocked the street in front of the ICE building, near SW Bancroft and Macadam.
The fake blood caused slick conditions on the road, Portland police spokeswoman Lt. Tina Jones said. The eastbound side of the road was closed for about two hours while the Portland Bureau of Transportation helped with the cleanup.
Jones said there could be potential charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
Portland police are asking anyone with information to call the bureau’s non-emergency line.
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Sometimes it’s like watching a horror movie. But, sadly, it’s real. We can only pray daily for our country and for those that serve and protect it.
