Thousands of Oregon Union Members, Families, and Community Members Gather Peacefully, Met with Tear Gas from Federal Officers

Today, thousands of union members gathered at Elizabeth Caruthers Park to rally and march peacefully to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on South Macadam Avenue to call for an end to the ICE escalation in our cities and states.

This inspirational showing marked a key moment in the fight to protect our communities, coworkers, and families, unfortunately federal agents decided to respond with violence by releasing tear gas on union members, families, children, and pets in the middle of the day during a peaceful march.

Photo credit to OFNHP, and OPB.

Below is a statement from Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor:

“This is an attack on working people, and an attack on Oregon’s labor movement,” Trainor said. “Deploying tear gas when union members, families, children, and pets came together to protest peacefully against ICE’s terrorization of immigrants and our communities in Oregon and across the country is an unacceptable escalation from federal agents. This is not okay.”

Links to photos and videos from the rally and march:

Statement from SEIU 503

Oregon AFL-CIO video

SEIU 503 video

SEIU 49

Top: Photo of union member receiving medical care (Credit to OPB)

Bottom: Photo of tear as being deployed (Credit to OPB)

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The Oregon Labor Dispatch: February 5, 2026

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The Oregon Labor Dispatch: january 29, 2026