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QuickTake:
People of all ages gathered at the federal courthouse and marched through town to Alton Baker Park with handmade signs as a part of a national day of protest against President Donald Trump’s birthday celebration in Washington D.C.
Protesters filled the streets of downtown Eugene on Saturday, marching through town with American flags, signs, costumes and protest music. Protest organizers, 50501 Eugene, estimate 10,000 people attended, a figure supported by a crowd that stretched over multiple blocks.
Boris Wiedenfeld-Needham, 50501 Eugene press liaison, said his team saw only one safety scare when a car drove close to protesters while they were crossing a street, but no one was hit. They originally planned to end the protest at Eugene City Hall, but the crowd was larger than expected.
“We decided very early on we needed to move it to Alton Baker Park because there was just not enough room (at City Hall),” Wiedenfeld-Needham told Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
The crowd, which gathered at Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse, wound through downtown going west on Broadway, north on Olive Street and east on 5th Avenue before zigzagging past City Hall and over the Willamette River to Alton Baker Park. Protesters danced in the park to the beat of Samba Ja Bateria’s drums, creating a joyful atmosphere to end the march.
A national day of protest
Protesters march through Eugene to Alton Baker Park during the “No Kings” demonstration, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
The Raging Grannies perform in front of the Eugene Federal Building during the “No Kings” march on June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
A protester burns sage while marching through Eugene to Alton Baker Park on June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters cross the Peter DeFazio Bridge during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025, in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Samba Ja drummers lead protesters through Eugene during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
A drummer plays with Samba Ja outside Eugene City Hall as protesters march to Alton Baker Park during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Thousands of protesters hold signs as they walk to Alton Baker Park during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025, in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters hold balloons spelling out “felon” as the Raging Grannies perform in front of the Eugene Federal Building, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters arrive in Alton Baker Park at the end of the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025, in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters line the Ferry Street Bridge and cheer as drivers pass by during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025, in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Thousands gather outside the Eugene Federal Courthouse during the “No Kings” protest, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Thousands of protesters gather in front of the Eugene Federal Building before marching to Alton Baker Park during the “No Kings” march on June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters dance as the Samba Ja drummers play in Alton Baker Park during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025 in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Thousands march through Eugene toward Alton Baker Park, June 14, 2025, during the “No Kings” march. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters wave signs and cheer on Coburg Road as drivers honk during the “No Kings” march on June 14, 2025, in Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
An Amazon delivery driver is stuck as protesters march by during her route on June 14, 2025 in downtown Eugene. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
Protesters march through Eugene during the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield 
A crowd of protesters listen to speakers in front of the Eugene Federal Building at the start of the “No Kings” march, June 14, 2025. Credit: Emilee Jackson / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
Eugene residents were not the only ones to take to the streets Saturday.
People across the country attended “No Kings” protests, which grassroots organizations locally organized, but were affiliated with the organization No Kings. According to the group’s website, the demonstrations were organized in protest of Trump’s birthday military parade Saturday night.
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance,” says the No Kings website. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.”
‘There are people being taken’
The Washington D.C. parade organized by President Donald Trump, listed as a celebration of the United States Army’s 250th birthday, but being held on Trump’s 79th birthday, was not the only thing that made protesters show up.
Jonathan Estrella, an IT professional from Eugene, held a large American flag in the median of Mill Street near the federal courthouse. He attended Saturday’s march to show his support for immigrants being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“There are people being taken,” Estrella said. “They need the community to reach out to them. The government isn’t stepping in to stand up for the people, so we need to stand up.”
Estrella said he was carrying the American flag because he wants the country to unite against an administration he sees as corrupt.
Brian and Sara Hynd came to the protest with their 8- and 10-year-old sons.
Brian Hynd recently won his race for Bethel School Board and is getting involved locally to try and make a positive difference in his community.
The couple say they talk with their sons as honestly as possible about national politics while also trying to explain things in ways that make sense. They attended the demonstration as a family to show their sons the power of protest.
“Because of how we talked to them about things going on in the world, we wanted to make sure that they see that there are people fighting for what’s right,” Brian Hynd said.
Traditional protest songs from the 60s, including Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan and This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie, drifted out of the speaker in Jeanne Savage’s backpack.
Savage, 75, was a teen when the group Peter, Paul and Mary sang the same songs at the March on Washington in 1963.
“If you get the right music, you can inspire people to join together,” Savage said.
Hana Marino, 73, protested in her youth for reproductive rights. Saturday, she wore an outfit that resembled clothes women wore in “The Handmaid’s Tale”, a show adapted from a Margaret Atwood novel about women kept under sexual and political subjugation.
“I thought this was a resolved thing in the 70s,” Marino said. “I thought I would go into my old age with women having the right to choose, with women having access to abortion, having the rights that we fought for in the 70s. I never thought we’d come back around to this.”
Melinda McLaughlin, Eugene Police Department public information officer, wrote via email the department also estimated 10,000 people attended the Saturday march, and noted no safety concerns.
“It went smoothly,” wrote McLaughlin.
