A banner reading “it’s OK to be white” held up by Richard Ward in Portland’s Congress Square Park has been denounced by several city councilors and caused dozens of community members to join anti-racism protests in the same park.

“Why I held up that particular message is to expose the anti-white sentiment in our society,” said Ward, who ran for Portland City Council in November.

The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase Ward used was popularized online in 2017 and picked up by white supremacists shortly after, according to CBS 13.

Councilor Victoria Pelletier of District 2 says she received numerous threats of violence against her online following a statement she made condemning the sign and its ties to white supremacism.

The protestors in Congress Square Park aim to condemn this kind of language in the Portland community. “I don’t see being white as someone that’s being oppressed right now,” said Portland resident Harlan Baker.

Ward says he doesn’t believe his language is racist and plans to display his sign again.