This weekend, students will rally to commemorate the anniversary of Ian Van Ornum’s arrest.
Samantha Chirillo, who graduated from the University with a master’s degree last term and is an organizer of Saturday’s event, said the rally serves to educate on police brutality and encourage free speech and civic engagement. The rally will take place at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at East 8th Avenue and Oak Street at noon.
“It’s basically an event to reenergize, reactivate and show support for environmental activism in our community,” she said. “It’s also to highlight the problems that persist – the lack of communication and lack of adherence to the voters’ will on police-community relations.”
Eugene police twice stunned Van Ornum, a University freshman last year, with a Taser. He was convicted of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest last month.
Chirillo also helped organize the May 30, 2008 anti-pesticide rally at Kesey Square downtown where Van Ornum and two others were arrested.
“I was a witness to what happened – the abuses by the Eugene Police Department,” she said.
In the year since the incident, Chirillo said there has been a resurgence in environmental activism as Van Ornum’s arrest drew attention to the work he and others had taken up.
Chirillo said she’s “very happy” with the success she and other anti-pesticide activists had this past year in keeping roadsides pesticide-free.
While activists have seen some positive gains, Chirillo said that tension between citizens and police has increased.
“The problems with the police department and accountability have gotten worse,” she said.
The Facebook event page for the rally states that the purpose of the meeting is to “demand justice for Ian Van Ornum, a Eugene resident and survivor of police brutality.”
Chirillo said she hopes to garner more support for Van Ornum on Saturday, especially in light of last weekend’s low turnout to the benefit concert where Van Ornum took donations to help pay his legal fees.
“We need to support people facing legal battles, but (not) let it burden our current goals,” she said. “What I want is to see things move forward.”
The rally on Saturday will feature speakers, an open mic and likely a march.
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