Close to a thousand people gathered at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland on Thursday to protest President Donald Trump's appointment of an acting attorney general who is feared to threaten a special counsel investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The protest in Portland and others organized in Lake Oswego, Salem and Ashland were among dozens held around the country and organized by political group MoveOn. The demonstrations came a day after the appointment of acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker in the wake of Jeff Sessions' firing.

Protesters believe Whitaker should recuse himself from overseeing the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller, as Sessions did.

In Portland, demonstrators of all ages displayed signs in favor of Mueller and the investigation continuing, as well as anti-Trump messages. Many lined both sides of Southwest Naito Parkway near the Burnside Bridge while holding their signs, spurring honks of approval by passing motorists.

Portlanders gather for #NobodyIsAboveTheLaw protest 31 Gallery: Portlanders gather for #NobodyIsAboveTheLaw protest

The words "Democracy not Dictatorship" and later "Impeach" were projected in orange on the Portland Fire & Rescue station across the street from the park. A projection on another nearby building read "Nobody is Above The Law."

The crowd chanted, "This is what democracy looks like," listened to a rendition of Rachel Platten's "Fight Song" and said a prayer for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was hospitalized Thursday after fracturing three ribs in a fall.

Members of Indivisible Oregon, a volunteer grassroots group that helped organize the Portland event, urged the crowd to contact members of Congress every day until Whitaker recuses himself and legislation is passed that protects Mueller's investigation.

Oregon's Sen. Ron Wyden, along with representatives of fellow Democrats Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, was among several people who spoke to the crowd.

Wyden said he wouldn't allow the investigation to be "swept under the rug."

"With your passion and your energy, I know the Constitution and the rule of law will still prevail in America," he said to the crowd.

The protest lasted about an hour.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced earlier Thursday she was one of 18 state attorneys general asking Whitaker in a letter to recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation.

"You must be aware that your public comments criticizing Mr. Mueller's investigation have been widely circulated," the letter said. "At various opportunities — in print, on television, and through social media — you have suggested cutting the Special Counsel's budget or limiting his authority to follow lines of inquiry."

The recusal is important to "maintain public trust in the integrity of the investigation," the letter said, and that Mueller should have full authority to investigate and prosecute any crimes, if necessary.

Whitaker hasn't announced publicly if he will or won't recuse himself.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey