The parade still won't go on.

The decision to cancel Saturday's 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade over an anonymous threat has prompted dismay from the mayor, spawned protests and prompted the Portland Rose Festival to ensure its events will go on as planned.

But as of Wednesday evening, despite widespread surprise and outrage over the cancellation, organizers of the popular event haven't made any public indication of an 11th-hour revival.

They announced Tuesday they were canceling the parade after receiving an anonymous email threatening to disrupt the event.

The inclusion of the Multnomah County Republican Party — one of many groups involved in the event — apparently drew the ire of the anonymous emailer, who told organizers they could cancel the group's registration or face protest action.

"You have seen how much power we have downtown and that the police cannot stop us from shutting down roads so please consider your decision wisely," the email says.

Event organizers cited "threats of violence" from "multiple groups planning to disrupt the event," in announcing the cancellation. As of Wednesday night, organizers haven't otherwise returned requests for comment about the planning or reaction to the cancellation.

At least two protests had been planned for the day of the parade, one by Oregon Students Empowered and another by Direct Action Alliance. Both events were mentioned in the anonymous email, but the groups have said they're not linked to the threatening message.

Various ideological groups have reacted on social media to the parade cancellation, which reflect political tensions Portland has experienced of late.

A conservative group called Patriot Prayer is planning a March for Free Speech on 82nd Avenue on Saturday. The group says marchers will be peaceful and won't block traffic, according to a Facebook event promoting the march.

Oregon Students Empowered, which describes itself as a student group that fights "fascism and injustice," is planning to disrupt the march, another Facebook event says.

Rich Jarvis, spokesman for the Rose Festival Foundation, which includes the parade in its calendar, initially said organizers canceled after police told them they couldn't offer any additional security.

He said Wednesday, however, that a police spokesman told him organizers canceled the event before police had the chance to respond to the threat of violence.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, spokesman, said police knew about the threats and were ready to "provide a police response appropriate to the needs of the event, which has traditionally been a family-friendly affair."

"The Police Bureau did not tell organizers that the Bureau would be unable to provide additional police resources but that any decisions to provide additional resources would be left to East Precinct command," Simpson said in an email. "My understanding is that the decision by organizers to cancel was made prior to any further discussions with East Precinct."

— Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Jamie Hale of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report