Weekly demonstrations aim to raise awareness
As a group of Estacada community members participated in a weekly vigil in support of peace, social justice and the Black Lives Matter movement, some passing by raised the middle finger and others honked and waved in support.
From 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 27, around 40 people gathered at the corner of Main Street and Highway 224 holding signs with phrases like "I love Estacada. I hate racism," "Want to be blessed? Break the chains of the oppressed!," "All lives will matter when Black lives matter," and "I'm the dangerous protester you're neighborhood watch warned you about."
A group has been standing in support of peace in the area weekly since the early 2000s. At the beginning of June, they welcomed additional demonstrators in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Typically, these gatherings see between 25 and 50 people, and no violence has been reported.
On Saturday, one of the participants shared fresh green beans with anyone interested. A driver yelled out, "right on!" as he passed the group.
Julie Hamer has participated in many of the demonstrations, and she thinks they're an important way of raising awareness.
"It's important to let everybody who drives by know that there are people who believe in justice for everyone," she said.
"It's important that people in Portland and beyond know that Estacada has a conscience," Carol Kiggins. added
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