Advocating for a state of emergency to be declared on Oregon’s housing crisis, demonstrators set off from Portland on May 23 on a weeklong Give Us Shelter March.

Marchers were due to reach their final destination, the state Capitol in Salem, on Wednesday, May 29, and attend a meeting of the House Committee on Human Services and Housing.

In addition to a housing emergency, participants were calling for a stop to sweeps of homeless camps; water, trash and toilet services; self-governed communities; affordable housing for all; and an end to being targeted by police. 

Marchers carry signs along Highway 99 before setting up camp Tuesday, May 28, 2019. They were participating in the weeklong Give Us Shelter March from Portland to Salem, advocating for housing and homeless rights.

Demonstrators participate in the Give Us Shelter March on Tuesday, May 28, 2019. They left Portland five days earlier and planned to arrive in Salem on Wednesday, May 29.

A demonstrator marches along Highway 99 between Gervais and Brooks on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, as part of the Give Us Shelter March from Portland to Salem.

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This article appears in 2019-05-31.

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