Portlanders join Measures nationwide for the 5th anniversary of George Floyd's death

Dozens of people gathered on Saturday in the Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland to remember the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death.

Several spokesman for the event stated that there had not been enough reform since Floyd's murder, although they were widespread and changed at the local level.

“Black people are not people who are afraid of,” said organizer Cameron Whitten. “We are not a danger to society, and if we march, we listen better because we march for liberation.”

The protest was organized by We Are The Bridge, a coalition of more than 30 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, 50501 Portland and the Urban League of Portland.

The organizers have also published a list of requirements for local and nationwide governments. In particular, they asked the local governments to adopt a resolution that recognized George Floyd's fifth anniversary. They also want to create a Black Celebration Plaza in Portland and new programs to promote the health and safety of black residents.

Related: The world experienced the murder of George Floyd. What changed 5 years later?

MP Travis Nelson, D-Portland, told the audience that there are still many problems that affect the blacks in Oregon and across the country disproportionately.

“The work is not yet finished,” said Nelson. “We still have too many differences in health results in black people. Black and brown families still have problems.”

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 by the Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, triggered nationwide protest against the murder of black men from police officers. The protests in Portland took months, which occasionally led to violent clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Sam Peterson still remembered the protests and said that there was still not enough justice. She held a sign with the inscription: “Love is power.”

“Black people are still killed in disproportionate speed compared to other ethnic groups within the states, especially by the police,” said Peterson. “I have the feeling that we have a lot to achieve and we will continue to appear and show support.”

The demonstrators finally marched from the Revolution Hall via the Burnside Bridge and reproduced a famous scene from the protests to the city center in 2020.