The Oct. 17 gathering was part of protests held around Oregon ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election. Speakers focused on voter participation and concerns about intimidation, following a recent rise in immigration arrests in East Multnomah County. About one in five Gresham residents identifies as Hispanic, according to Census data.

“¡Sí se puede!” state Rep. Ricki Ruiz, a Democrat from Gresham, called out to the crowd. Attendees carried hand-drawn signs criticizing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and some wore “I voted” pins.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, the first Latina elected to the position, spoke about her family’s immigration history and the fear she said residents feel amid immigration enforcement. She said sharing her identity could help community members see that they belong in the region.

“There is so much fear because of the intimidation that is happening,” Vega Pederson said. “I want people in the community to understand that folks are welcome here.”

A small group of counterprotesters chanted support for Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The rain and opposing chants did not stop the rally’s music and march.

Saray Garcia, a Gresham resident with the running group Latinas Run Across Portland, said at least two people she knew had stopped attending meetups because of recent ICE activity in the Portland area. The group finished a 5K run and gathered near the rally, wearing shirts with the Spanish phrase “juntas somos más fuertes” — together we are stronger.

“More than ever our community is feeling unsafe being out and about,” Garcia said. She and other runners then dropped off their mail-in ballots at East County Library.

“We’re representing our culture, and we’re showing up for the community that’s not able to vote,” Garcia said. “We want to be the voice for them.”

Ruiz said voting is one way residents can respond to issues shaped by federal policy. He also cited the recent school shooting in Bend, where three children and a teacher were killed, as part of what made the coming election feel especially consequential.

“A lot of these things that we’ve seen happening across the state and across this nation are policy decisions that are made at the congressional level,” Ruiz said. “We do our best to respond with action, and I think part of that is turning out to vote.”

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Portland Democrat seeking reelection, also urged people to vote. She said she had visited Portland’s ICE detention center the previous week with Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici while trying to locate a constituent who had been arrested.

Dexter said people detained in the Portland area were being transferred to Tacoma, and described that as a denial of due process. She said people were afraid to contact government agencies and pledged to challenge the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and visit detention facilities in her capacity as a member of Congress.

Election Day is Nov. 3.