It’s been a fun afternoon for a protest in downtown Portland:

DOG: Marching in solidarity for worker’s rights…

Catch pictures of some of the characters marching after the jump.

Ignacio Paramo of the VOZ workers' rights project led the march. "May Day is international workers' day so we're marching in solidarity in the spirit of the workers," he said. "We're fighting for the rights of all workers, especially in this tough political moment for immigration."

City council candidate Amanda Fritz was out with a banner. "I've been coming for several years," she said. "As a worker, and an immigrant." (She's British, you know).

Seriously pissed-off granny Bonnie Tinker was in jubilant mood. The District Attorney's office decided on April 21 not to press charges against her for daubing the military recruitment center on NE Broadway with red hand prints on Good Friday. "I guess that means they're backing off," she said.

Duane Reynolds, one of the homeless protesters outside city hall, was pleased the march went past. He took a moment to remind those marching of the reason for the homeless protest: Against city hall's using sweeps under the bridges to move people on. He also showed a sign, listing the value of one person's property taken by police during one of the recent sweeps:
Good on you, Duane.

Videographer Joe Anybody was there with his camera. He's pleased the District Attorney has decided not to press charges against him after a cop confiscated his camera for videotaping an arrest recently. "I have a couple of spares in my backpack, just in case," he admitted.

People marched! People shouted!

Mayoral candidate (and would be Ikea-bomber) Kyle Burris was marching with the anarchists. "123, Anarchists are we, we fight beside the working class to kill the bourgeoisie," they sang. Burris is the guy in the foreground with the bike and the knife. I'm starting to worry about him.

Transgender person Lee Iacuzzi, author of blog Not A Good Queer said "hello!" Lee was marching with a three-legged dog, named Rowdy.

Ross Lampert, who's Portland's organizer for the American Federation of Musicians, was also marching. "I feel like maybe we should go take over a congressman's office and demand an end to the war," he said. "But this is alright."

More marching! More shouting! Si se puede!

Julio Vazquez and Patrick Nolen of Sisters of the Road were designated peace keepers. They'd stuck 1400 white flags in the South Park blocks earlier, to signify the number of people homeless on Portland's streets, every night:

Quite a point they make, eh?

I love a good protest.