While North Coast temps soared into mid to high 80s on Sunday, roughly 200 people holding homemade signs and waving U.S. flags, lined Marine Drive. The local...
Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Approximately 200 people participated in the "Take Back Our Flags" Flag Day protest on Marine Drive, organized by Indivisible North Coast Oregon and North Coast Action. The protest took place on the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 88 degrees, and participants stood with signs and flags for about an hour between 16th and 19th on Marine Drive. The event received mostly positive responses from passing cars, with honks of support, but some individuals drove by revving their engines or making negative gestures towards the protesters. See more While North Coast temps soared into mid to high 80s on Sunday, roughly 200 people holding homemade signs and waving U.S. flags, lined Marine Drive. The local "Take Back Our Flags" Flag Day protest was organized by Indivisible North Coast Oregon and North Coast Action. It was one of scores of others demonstrating across the country on the same day President Donald Trump held a Ultimate Fighting Championship Mixed Martial Arts fight event under a specially constructed dome on the White House Lawn in celebration of his 80th birthday. Despite the heat, people stood with signs and flags for about an hour, from noon to 1 p.m., between 16th and 19th on Marine Drive. Some sought the cooler temps offered in scant shade while others stepped onto the sunny sidewalk, some banging on pots and drums. Sunday was officially the hottest day of the year so far with a temperature of 88 and the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory. In 2025, the hottest day was on Sept. 16 with a high of 89. One protester said she belonged to the group INCO. "I'm usually here on Mondays (holding a sign," said M.J. "On Tuesdays, I'm in Seaside." She was there, she said, "just to protect our flag and our country and our immigrant friends." Kerry Strickland of Astoria said she came out because "it's a way to keep awareness alive and to keep us together. … It's Flag Day and look what Trump is doing at our Capitol." Gloria Crape from Clatskanie agreed and added, "it gives us hope. If we just stay alone in our living room, it feels like nobody is paying attention. Most of the cars passing by on Sunday honked in alliance with the protesters, however there were some who drove by loudly revving their engines, making "flipping the bird" gestures or calling out epithets. "Overall, we've had more positive than negative response," said one person at the event who declined to give their name. Connie Illias of Astoria who was dressed in a red, white and blue flag-like 'fit, said she was there because "there are so many things going wrong with this country from the top. He doesn't seem to have any conscience. … How can you stay silent?" Ninety-three-year-old Eleanor Green of Astoria said she came out on the hottest day of the year so far "for the flags." In addition to the protest, another event, "Peaceful Offerings," was slated for 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Garden of the Surging Waves. The event was moved from its previously named earlier time in the afternoon due to the North Coast's heat wave. It included a meditation with Bernice Moore, a mindfulness teacher, Qigong and a sound bath with Benedetto DeFrancisco. In addition to the nationwide protests and the UFC MMA fight, a concert organized by the Committee for the First Amendment, "Rise up, Sing Out," was slated for Sunday evening and available through watch parties in cities across the country.
