Police take an individual into custody after a protest on the I-5 on April 15, 2024. Protesters gathered on the Harlow Rd. bridge and I-5 below, blocking traffic, “as part of a global economic blockage to free Palestine,” according to an Instagram post by the Springfield-Eugene Anti-Imperialist Coalition (@anti.imperialist.coalition). The demonstration was organized in conjunction with other actions across the world as part of the “A15 Economic Blockades for a Free Palestine.” (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)
[Editor‘s Note: The names of students in this article have been redacted due to safety concerns.]
Update: Each of the students were released as of Wednesday morning. Court records show that two were freed on conditional release, while one was released on their own recognizance.
Fifty-two people, including at least three University of Oregon students, were arrested in Eugene on April 15 after linking arms across Interstate 5, blocking traffic for nearly 45 minutes. The blockade was a part of a global blockade movement to “free Palestine,” a movement started by the A15 Economic Blockades for Free Palestine.
Three UO students were confirmed arrested, as well as a former student and affiliate of SJP who often conducts security at SJP events.
All of the protestors arrested were charged with 2nd degree disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor in the State of Oregon.
According to arraignment documents, the offenders, “did unlawfully, and recklessly create a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance and alarm by obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic on Interstate 5…”
Court records show the three students all pled not guilty on Tuesday and were appointed Public Defender Services.
In a joint Instagram post following the arrests, UO Young Democratic Socialists of America, UO Jewish Voice for Peace, Eugene Jail Support and Students for Justice in Palestine asked for monetary support to finance bail funds for those arrested.
“We’re [UOYDSA, JVP, and SJP] regularly in communication with each other and so there’s just a large community of people who are mutually wanting to help each other, so that we can continue to advocate for Palestinian liberation,” JVP leader Gabriela Moreno said.
Moreno said that UOYDSA, JVP and SJP are organizations aligned with each other on the cause for “Palestinian liberation,” and therefore, cited their similar causes as a reason for UOYDSA, JVP and SJP coming together in support of protestors.
According to Moreno, supporters were at the Lane County Courthouse as of 3:50 p.m. today, “waiting for our fellow comrades to come out.”
Moreno anticipates the arrested subjects to be released by the end of the day.
The Eugene Jail Support organization also raised over $3,700 toward their $8,000 dollar goal to pay impound fees for the vehicles of protestors arrested at the event.
JVP declined to comment on those currently being held in jail.
* This is a developing story, check back for updates
[Editor’s note: This article mistakenly included the name of an individual who is no longer a UO student. The name has been redacted and the Emerald regrets the error.]
Observers wearing hats that read "National Lawyers Guild Legal Observer" watch as police take people into custody after a protest on April 15, 2024. Protesters gathered on the Harlow Rd. bridge and I-5 below, blocking traffic, "as part of a global economic blockage to free Palestine," according to an Instagram post by the Springfield-Eugene Anti-Imperialist Coalition (@anti.imperialist.coalition). The demonstration was organized in conjunction with other actions across the world as part of the "A15 Economic Blockades for a Free Palestine." (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)
