After a large-scale turnout for the Nationwide “Hands Off” protest against the Trump administration in early April, thousands of people gathered in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square around 11:30 a.m. Saturday for a demonstration and march that wound through downtown. Many of the protesters carried signs, some of them denouncing the deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia in violation of a judge’s order — an issue which has come under increasing scrutiny in recent days. Other people bore signs protesting the administration’s efforts to slash the federal workforce, moves to restrict gender-affirming care, the escalating tariff trade war with China and other developments. “We’re here because we want to protest the decrease in funding for science,” said Lauren Rodda as she stood in the square next to Bella Rauch, adding that both of them are immunologists who do research at Oregon Health & Science University. “This is the one that affects the two of us the most because we’re scientists and we’re really impacted by the attack on universities and on scientific funding,” Rauch chimed in. “But obviously there’s many other reasons (we’re protesting), like no due process for people and just sending them to very bizarre places abroad — and the attack on people’s healthcare, the attack on freedom of speech.” As Rodda and Rauch spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive, the sound of speakers calling through bullhorns and live brass music played across Portland’s living room as the crowd began to pour out of the square and into the street, down Southwest Broadway. The protesters traversed a loop through the heart of downtown Portland for a little over an hour, while Portland Police redirected car traffic away from the marchers. Around 1 p.m., the protesters reconvened in Pioneer Courthouse Square and chatted among themselves. “As a trans person, it’s scary,” said protester Logan Meikle after the march ended. “So being out here kind of is helpful because I can see that all these people are here in support for all different reasons.” Elsewhere in the square, Alshiref Eskander and Kamalah Adams — both Portland-area small business owners — shared their reasons for attending the march. “I’m here to stand up for democracy, I never voted for any of this,” Adams said. “We’re also business owners and the tariffs are impacting our business, so we’re here protesting that as well.” Eskander added that he’s seen some supplies for his graphics and printing business shoot up $300 in price since the Trump administrations’ moves to escalate tariffs on China. But, he said, he had more reasons to protest than the mounting costs on imports. “I believe that tariffs are almost nothing compared to all the bigger stuff that is happening around right now,” he said. “We should be treated equally — it doesn’t matter our color or race or what language we speak. We should treat each other good because we never know when we’re going to die. What is our legacy going to be when we pass? We want it to be a good one.” — Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313.