People are gathering at the Oregon State Capitol as part of a nationwide protest April 19 against the Trump administration.
The protest, organized by Rise & Resist, is the latest in a series across the country coordinated by grassroots organizations.
Other related protests organized by The 50501 Movement — 50 states, 50 protests, one day — were planned around Oregon. More than 500 were planned around the U.S.
Chelsea Alionar marches with fellow protesters with the 50501 movement on April 5 at Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
A poster for the protest in Salem quoted a popular aphorism by a German pastor expressing his belief that Germans had been complicit in the Holocaust through their silence.
The quote originated from impromptu speeches the pastor gave and follows the structure: “First they came for / and I did not speak out because I was not a … / Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me,” the poster read.
Follow along for live updates, videos and photos from the protest.
Oregon State Capitol and Salem are popular spot for protests
Other recent protests in Salem include a rally against potential cuts to Medicaid, a protest at the start of April against Trump organized by 50501 and a demonstration at the Tesla dealership against Elon Musk’s involvement in cutting federal spending.
What is Rise & Resist and why is it protesting in Salem?
Salem’s protest was organized by the local chapter of Rise & Resist.
The Salem 50501 chapter opted for a “day of action” instead of a protest, encouraging people to volunteer for a local cause, donate goods and clothes or write letters to representatives.
Rise & Resist is a national direct action nonprofit that aims to combat threats to democracy and civil liberties through lobbying and demonstrations.
The Salem chapter of Rise & Resist said the protest date was chosen in part due to a January executive order signed by President Donald Trump that declared a national emergency at the southern border and set an April 20 deadline for advising Trump on the use of the Insurrection Act.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows a president to deploy military forces inside the United States to quell rebellion or violence, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy group.
Rise & Resist Salem said it plans to continue holding protests every two weeks.
What is the 50501 Movement and why is it protesting President Donald Trump?
The movement was born on the website Reddit and spread via social media and word of mouth. It held its first protest on Feb. 5, when hundreds of people protested at the Oregon State Capitol and around the country.
The group opposes the policies promoted by Trump, Project 2025 and what it describes as “anti-democratic” actions of Trump and his allies.
“Our movement shows the world that the American working class will not sit idly by as plutocrats rip apart their democratic institutions and civil liberties while undermining the rule of law,” the 50501 website said.
Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Protest against Trump held at Oregon State Capitol: Live updates