Wednesday, Sept. 23
Local antiracist protests continued after a postponed protest and a two-week hiatus caused by the Holiday Farm Fire’s choking smoke that blanketed the skies of both Eugene and Springfield.
Related: “Photos: Holiday Farm Fire”
At 6 p.m. the leaders of this protest — none of the known local activist groups took ownership — stood in solidarity with other protests nationwide demanding justice for Breonna Taylor mobilized, under heavy rain, in the Whiteaker neighborhood and discussed their action for the evening.
An hour later, about 75 people blocked traffic in front of the Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse for about 20 minutes before marching into downtown.
At its peak, around 170 people marched as the crowd size fluctuated throughout the night.
Following a brief stop at the Lane County Jail, where several tall, black fence posts have been erected around the front plaza, the march returned to the courthouse where it started.
Once the march arrived back at the federal courthouse, those who led the march up to that point spoke to protesters about ongoing activism efforts, then encouraged them to go home safely.
A portion of the group — not clad in black protest gear known as black bloc, covering yourself head-to-toe in black clothing — began to leave, while many lingered in front of the courthouse as a new group of activists, including members of BIPOC Liberation Collective, took over the megaphone.
The new group of activists called for the remaining protesters to further organize for the end of police brutality, like in their workplaces, to improve the success of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Declaring the approximately 90-minute march — including several intersection “take-overs” — that preceded their speeches as not sufficient enough disruption, leaders called for protesters to take to the streets again.
With the majority of the bike and car safety crew gone, the group of around 50, mostly dressed in black bloc, formed a line in front, linked arms and began marching back through downtown Eugene.
The protest wove through university neighborhoods on a roundabout route toward the University of Oregon campus while chanting and calling for people watching to join the march.
Some protesters began dragging trash cans, dumpsters and at least one mattress into the street behind the group, blocking traffic, as they made their way toward campus up Hilyard Street.
The group continued to the UO campus while some protesters graffitied traffic signs and construction plywood along the way. Once on campus, the march continued on 13th Street towards the EMU. As they passed Johnson Hall, several protesters spray-painted the building’s pillars to read “ACAB” and other phrases such as “Defund UOPD” and “Fuck Schill” in red.
Shortly after the building was graffitied, Eugene police began following the group at a distance, lights flashing, with at least nine cruisers and a prisoner transport van. Several counter-protesters also began following the group, and a video posted to Facebook shows at least one attacking Tre Stewart, a livestreamer from Boop Troop Eugene, knocking his phone from his hand. The protesters briefly debated over what to do before quickly disbanding in different directions.
According to EPD, after the protesters separated, police arrested two protesters for disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer.
Just before 10 p.m, the group wound back through campus the way they came and dispersed.
