Oregon Public Broadcasting

Protesters gathered Wednesday in downtown Portland to criticize the $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

Organizers say taxpayer money should not be used to pay for the financial industry’s blunders.

About 75 people chanted, marched and listened to speakers in front of the downtown Federal Building.

Britta Duncan is a health care advocate and a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.She says the poor and middle class don't get a golden parachute.

Britta Duncan: "We’ve already had a victory this week; we made our voices heard and they backed down. Now is the time that we continue to make our voices heard. It’s in the Senate now, we know it’s going to go to the House of Representatives."

The group Jobs With Justice organized the rally.  It describes itself as a coalition focusing on economic justice.