hands hands rally held bridge portland oregon response attack gay couple week prior holding hands walking bridge according couple group men followed bridge attacked assault condemned portland openly gay mayor police chief news attack spread pacific_northwest united_states attack prompted volunteers center nonprofit organization supports lgbt community form street patrols means monitoring portland downtown area lgbt human rights organizations sponsored response attack purpose linking hands entire span bridge people attended rally publicized single facebook page hours prior mayor adams community leaders spoke rally event received attention united_states instinct magazine acknowledged portland ability gather crowd support lgbt community despite rainy weather june residents washington held similar hand holding rally called hands monroe crossing monroe street bridge park background hate crimes portland police bureau statistics decrease number bias crime assaults hate crimes relating gender sexual orientation occurred portland far racial hate crimes group men drag harassed assaulted group men filing police report resulted community forum portland center nonprofit organization supporting lgbt community attended city residents chief mayor deputy district attorney attacks led formation patrols july consisted foot patrols specifically designed protect lgbt community downtown portland attributed rise number crimes related gender sexual identity increased number filed police reports hate crimes prevented remainder year november man perceived gay severely beaten left unconscious walking home southeast portland according bias crimes reported january april half number reported period assault aged respectively attacked holding hands walking bridge portland oregon details attack released said group men followed bridge beat came ramp according description released couple walked knew men talking laughing pointing sure directed men attacked couple pushed punched multiple times breaking away attackers reportedly stopped hitting head face ribs able police later recalled hear clearly remarks believed attackers foreign language swelling face required lip victims claimed witnesses nearby offer help form police immediately began investing case bias crime noting couple lack men attacked arrested attack reported newspapers pacific_northwest gay oriented media outlets nationwide portland openly gay mayor police chief spoke attack according portland open welcoming city feel safe adams expressed similar sentiments seek city equal opportunity city people safe sense safety streets parks cascade aids project time launched facebook campaign following attack called holding hands solidarity encouraging people post pictures hand holding center condemned attack assault prompted center volunteers form patrols means monitoring streets reporting hate crimes police initial plans patrols available weekend halloween rally sponsored basic rights oregon local churches rally publicized single facebook page hours prior campaign created separately hand holding photo gallery specifically promote rally event organizer center board member reportedly thought action plan middle night quickly posted idea facebook organization advocates state advertised event purpose event began link hands spanning length bridge people attended event members coalition congregations oregon welcome members gay community portland chapter attended rally gathered west bridge rally began speeches described attack said following discrimination time feared safety life sadly don expect want talk larger cultural issue making different people feel like worth normal people thing normal instance gay thousands people walk streets america yes portland feeling like human life valued society supposedly normal peers effects hatred endless contribute gang violence depression self alcohol drug abuse sexuality people feel kept secret explored dark openly safely talk keeping safe healthy loved secret hurting silence following speech basic rights oregon executive director thanked couple spoke symbolism hand holding rally encouraged supporters volunteer patrol rally crowd sang beatles want hold hand according hands marked instances portland major lgbt rights organizations worked event details rally reported gay oriented national publications instinct magazine noted portland ability gather crowd support lgbt community despite weather huffington_post contributor church minister portland attack rally question impact conservative evangelical religion anti gay rights organizations progressive oregon lgbt newspaper portland noted failure city largest newspaper cover rally sent letter petition paper publisher response requesting fair balanced coverage editor responded criticism petition signed people saying paper lack coverage mistake caused human error week rally mayor staff linked hands solidarity june residents washington held similar hand holding rally solidarity portland community called hands monroe 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