On a crisp October morning in Portland, Oregon, the city’s signature blend of activism and artistry was on full display. Outside the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, a group of protesters danced exuberantly, two of them clad in full animal costumes, while others joined in with carefree moves. The scene, captured in a 17-second video that quickly made the rounds online, was a far cry from the tense standoffs that have characterized past demonstrations against ICE in the city. Instead, the protest was playful, even whimsical—yet its message of resistance was unmistakable.
Reddit users responded with a mix of humor and admiration. One quipped, “Dispatch: THEY’RE DOING THE CHA CHA SLIDE,” while another joked about the raccoon costume being a new form of “biological warfare.” The levity on display was intentional, a hallmark of Portland’s activist scene, where humor and performance art often merge with political purpose. As Fast Company noted, this approach has become something of a signature for the city’s anti-ICE activism, with protesters using creative tactics to challenge federal policies while maintaining a sense of community and joy.
ICE agents observed the spectacle with little visible reaction, but the online audience celebrated the demonstration as a refreshing blend of protest and performance. “Pregame lobby in Fortnite be like,” summed up one Redditor, capturing the surreal, almost game-like atmosphere of the event. Despite the lightheartedness, the protest maintained its serious intent—standing against ICE operations and advocating for immigrant rights with a distinctly Portland twist.
Just a few miles away, another kind of transformation was underway in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. At the new headquarters of Literary Arts, a 41-year-old nonprofit, the energy was palpable. The 14,000-square-foot space, housed in a former hardware store, buzzed with activity: young people sipped coffee in the bookstore café, celebrated cartoonist Tom Toro chatted about his latest book, and staff members planned upcoming events. The headquarters, which opened in December 2024, includes not only the bookstore and café but also four classrooms, a podcasting studio, offices for 32 staffers, and an event venue that can seat 75 people.
Literary Arts’ move to the Central Eastside marked a turning point for the neighborhood, which had struggled during the pandemic but is now experiencing a renaissance. The organization’s executive director, Andrew Proctor, believes that arts and cultural organizations are essential to the city’s recovery. “Arts and cultural organizations have often been at the forefront of how we rebuild public space,” Proctor told Fast Company. “So I think that one of the paths to recovery for the city is going to be through arts and culture.”
Since announcing its relocation in 2022, Literary Arts has raised over $22.5 million to support its new community hub and the future Ursula K. Le Guin Writers Residency, set to open in the late author’s former home in 2027. The organization has also scored major literary coups, hosting visits from historian Timothy Snyder, Vice President Kamala Harris, and author-politician Stacey Abrams. The annual Portland Book Festival, organized by Literary Arts and scheduled for November 8, 2025, is expected to draw more than 100 authors and thousands of book lovers, with tickets selling ten times faster than last year. The festival’s lineup includes big names like Abrams—who will discuss her new thriller, not politics—and “romantasy” sensation Rebecca Yarros, alongside a diverse group of emerging writers, nearly 40% of whom hail from the Northwest.
For Proctor, the festival’s appeal is clear. “These books, these experiences with books, are very nourishing. And when you pair that by being out in community, it’s even more rich, because now you’re reading the same things or you’re at the festival standing in line talking to a stranger about something that you love and realizing that the world isn’t so strange and hostile.”
Literary Arts’ impact extends beyond the festival. The organization runs the Oregon Book Awards, the youth poetry slam Verselandia!, Writers in the Schools residencies, and the Portland Arts & Lectures series, one of the largest literary lecture programs on the West Coast. On nights when major authors visit, downtown restaurants are booked weeks in advance. Chef Greg Higgins, whose restaurant is near the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, observed, “Arts & Lectures turns one of those [week] nights into a Saturday night.”
Portland’s embrace of arts-driven community building stands in stark contrast to the city’s portrayal in national political discourse. Just days before the Literary Arts café bustled with conversation, President Trump took to social media, ordering his “Secretary of War” to send the National Guard into what he called “War ravaged Portland.” The president’s claim of nightly riots, based on outdated footage from 2020, painted a picture of chaos that locals found unrecognizable. In reality, as Fast Company reported, Portland’s anti-ICE protests have remained largely peaceful, and a federal judge has barred any National Guard deployment to Oregon.
The disconnect between perception and reality sparked a wave of social media posts from Portlanders, who used hashtags like #warravagedportland to share images of children playing, bustling parks, and vibrant food scenes. One user wrote, “Danny here, reporting live from war-torn Portland. The smell of BBQ permeates. The puppies are viciously kind. People are doing yard work. This is not okay. Pray for us. #pdx.”
Behind the humor lies a story of resilience. After a pandemic-era surge in crime and homelessness, Portland is seeing tangible improvements. Homicides are down 41% compared to last year, open drug use has declined following the recriminalization of illicit drugs in 2024, and Mayor Keith Wilson has rapidly expanded shelter options for the unhoused. The city is also preparing to welcome the $25 million James Beard Public Market, expected to anchor downtown’s continued revival.
Arts organizations like Literary Arts have played a key role in this transformation, echoing the impact that artists and nonprofits have had in revitalizing neighborhoods from New York’s SoHo in the 1970s to Miami’s Wynwood in the 2000s. In Portland’s Central Eastside, the arrival of Literary Arts has catalyzed new energy. The block now boasts a dynamic architectural heritage center, a used bookshop hosting regular readings, a vegan Japanese restaurant frequented by celebrities, and a lively bar and music venue. “The building is open from 7 in the morning till 8 at night. Every day we’re serving coffee and food, and there are three events a week in the bookstore,” Proctor said. “It’d be hard to imagine us not having a pretty big impact on the neighborhood in a positive sense, just by sheer activity alone.”
Randy Gragg, a journalist and urban advocate, credits Literary Arts with crystallizing Portland’s identity as a literary hub. “They have really crystalized Portland as a literary center practically since their founding,” Gragg observed, adding that Proctor’s decision to move to the Central Eastside was “inspired” and, despite initial skepticism, “it would appear he’s pulling it off.”
Whether through joyful protest dances or the quiet power of a community bookstore, Portland is rewriting its own narrative—one that’s far more vibrant, hopeful, and engaged than the headlines suggest.
