Dozens of people gathered at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland on Saturday in remembrance of the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death.

Multiple speakers at the event said there has not been enough reform since Floyd’s murder, despite widespread protesting and changes at the local level.

“Black people are not people to be afraid of,” organizer Cameron Whitten said. “We are not a danger to society, and when we march y’all better listen, because we are marching for liberation.”

The protest was organized by We Are The Bridge, a coalition of more than 30 organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, 50501 Portland and the Urban League of Portland.

Organizers have also published a list of demands for local and state governments. In particular, they asked local governments to pass a resolution recognizing the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death. They also want the creation of a Black Celebration Plaza in Portland and new programs to promote the health and safety of Black residents.

The world witnessed George Floyd’s murder. 5 years later, what has changed?

State Rep. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, told the audience that there are still many issues that disproportionately impact Black people in Oregon and across the country.

“The work is not finished,” Nelson said. “We still have too many disparities in health outcomes amongst black people. Black and brown families are still struggling.”

George Floyd’s murder in 2020 by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked nationwide protesting against the killing of Black men by police officers. Protests in Portland lasted for months, which occasionally led to violent clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Sam Peterson still remembered the protests and said there still had not been enough justice. She held a sign that read, “Love is power.”

“Black folks are still killed at a disproportionate rate compared to other ethnicities within the states, particularly at the hands of the police,” Peterson said. “I feel like we have a lot to achieve, and we’re going to continue to show up and show support.”

Protesters eventually marched from Revolution Hall across the Burnside Bridge, replicating a famous scene from the 2020 protests, to downtown.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/25/portland-george-floyd-death-fifth-anniversary/