Despite pleas to cancel and concerns about violence, numerous political demonstrations are planned in downtown Portland this weekend.

On Sunday, four separate demonstrations – either simultaneously or within a few hours of each other – are planned within blocks near City Hall and adjacent parks.

A banner hangs over Interstate 5 early Sunday, June 4, 2017, in North Portland. Several protests are planned in downtown Portland later in the day.

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More than 1,000 people indicated on Facebook they plan to attend

About 400 said they were going to

About 70 said they were going to a

And a Saturday demonstration, "March for Truth PDX" will call for an "impartial investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election," according to a Facebook event. The march is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Terry Schrunk Plaza.

The Sunday demonstrations have raised the most concerns about potential clashes.

Portland police will provide "a robust law enforcement presence" because of concerns of violence, spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said Thursday. The groups have threatened each other online, Simpson said, and police have asked protesters to not bring any weapons or potential weapons such as bats, sticks, rocks or fireworks.

The city has not issued permits for a street march, Simpson said. There are no indications the demonstrations will block traffic, but police said drivers should plan for alternate routes.

Simpson did not respond to requests for the latest information about the demonstrations and the planned police response Friday.

The actions come a week after Jeremy Christian allegedly stabbed three men on a MAX train in Northeast Portland when they tried to stop him from yelling racist and hateful language at two teenage girls. Ricky Best, 53, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23, were killed in the attack. The third man, 21-year-old Micah Fletcher, was seriously injured.

City officials have said they fear high emotions after the attack would lead to violence at the free speech rally planned by the right-wing group Patriot Prayer.

The group, led by Joey Gibson, also hosted a "March for Free Speech" on 82nd Avenue in April, which Christian attended. Gibson told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday that his group has nothing to do with stabbing suspect, but organizers for the labor unions' counter-protest said in a news release that Gibson's group "threaten(s) immigrants and all working people."

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler asked federal officials to revoke the Patriot Prayer's permit Monday, prompting criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union and local conservative leaders. The federal government announced Wednesday it would not revoke the permit.

Fletcher's grandmother also said she hoped the demonstrations would be canceled. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, in Portland for a convention Friday, also advised against the counter-protests, telling counter-demonstrators they should march on a different day.

Despite the concerns, organizers of the counter-protest planned at City Hall, "Portland Stands United Against Hate," said the event would proceed as planned.

Cari Luna, the chair for Portland Democratic Socialists of America, said organizers are "100 percent committed to a non-violent rally." The group is one of several co-sponsors for the event.

The organizers met with Portland police and Wheeler to discuss keeping the rally peaceful, Luna said. The demonstrators will not confront the right-wing protesters and police will provide a buffer between the two groups, Luna said. Peacekeepers trained in de-escalation tactics will also be present, Luna said.

However, Luna said she can't guarantee what the large number of people in attendance may do.

"Large groups of people are unpredictable," Luna said.

— Samantha Matsumoto

503-294-4001; @SMatsumoto55