Salem’s Immigration Policy Protest Turns into Violent Street Takeover, Five Arrested
SALEM, Ore. — A street takeover in northeast Salem on Saturday night ended with five arrests after a large gathering to rally against national immigration enforcement efforts turned into a violent drifting party.
Salem Protesters Turn Rallying Into Racing
A crowd of people gathered in the parking lots of several businesses on the four corners of the intersection of Lancaster DR and Market ST NE, Salem, at around 12 midday on Saturday to rally against national immigration enforcement efforts. By 2 pm, the crowd had grown to an estimated 300 people.
While initially relatively peaceful despite traffic congestion in the area, callers reported participants throwing objects and hitting passing cars as the event progressed, prompting police to respond.
By 7 p.m., reports were received of demonstrators standing in the crosswalk, stopping traffic, setting off fireworks, and driving recklessly.
In response, police called in officers from home and requested assistance from outside agencies.
The Oregon State Police assisted with traffic control, and the Keizer Police Department handled calls in the city while patrol officers, MRT, and Strategic Investigations Unit detectives attended to the disorder and street takeover.
By 8.30 pm, the intersection of Lancaster DR and Market ST NE was blocked by almost 50 people occupying the street, with drivers doing dangerous drifting, burnouts, and spinning in the roadway while Cherriots buses were rerouted.
The intersection was closed at about 8.45, and north- and southbound Lancaster DR was closed between D ST and Sunnyview RD. East and westbound Market ST was also closed between Fisher RD and Tierra DR. OSP temporarily closed the Market ST offramp.
The group surrounded a vehicle on Lancaster DR when specialized crowd management officers from the Mobile Response Team (MRT) arrived, blocking all northbound traffic. As the officers cleared the area to let the vehicle proceed, protesters threw water bottles and cans of beer at Salem Police vehicles.
MRT and patrol officers addressed individuals observed engaging in criminal activity and seized a handgun. The five people arrested on various charges- including reckless driving and disorderly conduct, all from Salem were:
- Martin Arturo Galvez-Prado, 34 (including a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm)
- Martin Andrew Gonzalez, 34
- Angel Sierra Ramos, 30
- Abram Michael Delao, 19
- Joshua Alexander Perez, 18
After the arrests, the crowd gathered on the sidewalks and dispersed slowly. Traffic diminished, and the street closures were lifted at approximately 11 p.m.
No injuries were reported, but officers will be conducting follow-up investigations on several complaints of criminal mischief.