PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In the face of planned protests surrounding the inauguration of Donald Trump on Friday, Portland businesses and city workers are getting ready the possibility of things getting out of hand.
TriMet announced they will alter and may suspend service in the downtown core. TriMet officials clarified earlier statements Thursday that seemed to indicate they would suspend service over safety concerns.
In a statement released at 2:30 p.m., TriMet spokesperson Roberta Alstadt said service will be provided during the protest in downtown Portland:
“TriMet appreciates the support of the Portland Police Bureau, under the direction of Portland Mayor Wheeler, who have committed to assisting in keeping our transit system moving. However, if protests become violent and unsafe for our employees and riders, we will alter our service and may temporarily suspend it in the downtown core.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said TriMet didn’t consult with him before making this decision. He said TriMet is its own independent entity, and it makes it own decisions regarding operations.
“I have spoken to Neil McFarlane, TriMet’s general manager. I told him we are well-prepared to minimize disruptions and protect riders,” Wheeler said.
What riders say
TriMet riders Sara Kremer, Sharnell Davis and Simon Jaworsky told KOIN 6 News they are aware of the potential for disruption and aren’t particularly happy about it.
“I don’t plan on taking TriMet because it will be kind of crazy going through here,” Kremer said. “But I also don’t plan on being downtown.”
“It’s a bummer, most definitely,” Davis said. “I think the weather has delayed a lot of stuff lately, so it’s definitely going to be a problem for a lot of people.”
Jaworsky had advice for TriMet. “They should not back down and should run the system as normal and not let any type of protest stop the system.”
TriMet officials said they will make a real-time decision if employee safety or customer safety is compromised. That’s when they would consider stopping service.
Other pre-emptive closures
The Starbucks location at Pioneer Courthouse Square will be closing at 7 p.m. Friday. The Nordstrom’s store in Pioneer Courthouse Square also boarded up their windows early on Inauguration Day in preparation of the protests.
Also, Fox Tower Regal Cinema in downtown Portland will close and lock its doors at 3 p.m. Friday in anticipation of the protest disruption.
Portland Public Schools announced they would release students from MLC and Lincoln at 2 p.m. Bus schedules will be adjusted, all athletic and after-school activities are cancelled.
Previous protests
Known anti-Trump protests:
— Friday, January 20 around Noon, Pioneer Courthouse Square
— Women’s March on Portland, Saturday, January 21, Noon to 4p.m.Possible protests:
— Holladay Park, Northeast Portland
— Mt. Tabor Park, Southeast Portland
— Columbia Park, North Portland
— East 162nd Avenue MAX Station
Following the November 8 election of Donald Trump, a number of Portland businesses, especially in the Pearl District, were vandalized during consecutive nights of protests — including one that was deemed a riot.
Several companies contacted by KOIN 6 News on Thursday weren’t aware of the planned Friday protest. So far, stores and restaurants plan to be open as usual — but some will have extra security keeping a watchful eye on developments.
Some businesses near Pioneer Courthouse Square are saying they’ll close early. Nordstrom will close at 2 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. and the Fox Tower will lock up at 3 p.m.
Broadway Toyota in Northeast Portland, which had 15 vehicles damaged during anti-Trump protests in November, said some of those vehicles are still being repaired.
The car lot said it does have private security lined up for Friday and Saturday. Staff won’t be moving cars off the lot before the protests.
Steve Schumacher with the car lot said, “We have close to 250 cars between these 3 lots you see right here, and to move them to another location, I mean- we’re in downtown Portland. We don’t have room somewhere else.”
Some businesses told KOIN 6 News they will put up signs in their windows calling for peace. They said they sympathize with the protesters’ cause but not the violence that took place.
Student protest
In November a huge group of high school students walked out of class in protest in an event supported by Portland’s Resistance.
The Assistant Superintendent for the Office of School Performance at Portland Public Schools, Antonio Lopez, sent a letter to the high school principals this week that said:
“With so much going on politically and continuing over the next several weeks, we anticipate that there could be some student organized walk outs.“I know you are just reentering school after the week of weather related closures and you have a lot of work to catch up on, but I encourage you to review your walk out plans with your staff so there is clarity about school protocols and plans for such events.”
Other schools, including David Douglas, Evergreen schools and the Vancouver School District, said they have not heard of any possible disruptions.
Beaverton officials told KOIN 6 News they are monitoring social media, but at this time, all appears quiet.