PORTLAND — A bulletin on the website for the Occupy Portland demonstration announced plans for a Sunday afternoon march that will follow runners and walkers in the Portland Marathon from the Rose Quarter back into downtown.
“We will march tomorrow,” the bulletin said. “Not only us, but with the mayor’s office, police department, and the Portland Marathon chief officers.”
The bulletin said the office of Portland Mayor Sam Adams “has graciously invited us to enter the race, behind the runners, at 2:30 p.m. and march from the Rose Quarter, over the Broadway Bridge, down Naito Parkway, then across Jefferson to 4th until we reach our camp.”
Demonstrators have been negotiating with police and marathon organizers, who have had a longtime permit to use the two squares as the start and finish lines. It appeared late Friday that they had agreed to share the space.
The Occupy Portland website posted this announcement late Saturday afternoon: “All are invited to join us in another peaceful march this Sunday, Oct. 9th at noon. We will be gathering at the PSU park blocks. The march will be ending after the Portland Marathon back home at camp. Occupy Together is about maintaining a community. Come out and show we’re still together. “
The Portland Marathon website included this notice Saturday: “All events are going on as planned for a successful, safe and fun weekend. Event participants, spectators, volunteers as well as protesters need not be concerned. Occupy Portland, the City and the Portland Marathon have worked hand-in-hand to reach a solution that meets everyone’s needs for this weekend. The Portland Marathon raises over $2 million for charities each year at no cost to the charities. Last year, the event gave over $200,000 to 130 nonprofits, community service clubs, school activity groups and school athletic teams.”
Posts on Twitter have called on participants in the Occupy Portland movement to bring signs supporting the runners. Other posts have taken to describing the Portland Marathon as “The People’s Marathon.”
The bulletin also said marchers will sing the lyrics to John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.”
In a related matter, a man arrested for spraying graffiti at the Occupy Portland protest missed his court date.
A court appearance for Nolan Zane MacGregor, 21, was rescheduled for Oct. 21 when he didn’t show up. MacGregor was arrested along with an unidentified 17-year-old on suspicion of tagging phrases including “Occupy Portland” and “Wall Street Loves No One” on buildings and a marked police car.
Occupy Portland organizer Ivy Knight said she and other backers of the movement are trying to remove the paint.
The Portland Police Bureau said Saturday that it is investigating an allegation of a sexual assault Friday night in Chapman Square where “Occupy Portland” supporters are camping.
At this point, police said, the information has been documented but no victim has been identified and the allegation has not been substantiated.
