Eugene police leave scene of protest; federal officers deploy tear gas

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Friday, Jan. 30, is being billed as a “National Shutdown,” as organizers protest federal immigration enforcement and demand no new funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The day included a peaceful protest in Springfield, a car caravan to the Lane Events Center, with another rally there, and a protest erupting in the evening at the Eugene Federal Building, with flash-bang stun grenades and tear gas being deployed.

The protest comes on the heel of a demonstration Tuesday that resulted in federal officers using chemical irritants and detaining temporarily at least seven activists.

Here is our live coverage from throughout the day:

10:15 p.m.

Shortly before 10 p.m., as protesters inched closer to the officers standing in front of the Eugene Federal Building doors, officers walked quickly forward, pushing them to the edges of the courtyard. After about 5 minutes, they dispensed tear gas pellets, forcing the crowd completely off the property.

Only a small crowd of about 20 people remained at the edge of the courtyard at 10 p.m. and officers retired to the interior of the building.

10 p.m.

Eugene Police Department Chief Chris Skinner said federal officers at the building were few in numbers, so Eugene police responded as property became damaged at the downtown federal building.

The gathering was not considered a riot “right up to the point where people felt like they needed to damage the building, and then give every indication that their intent, not everybody’s intent, but some people’s intent, was to breach that facility and go in that building.”

“We did have at one point a report that somebody or several individuals had made it inside the building. I can’t confirm that, but that was the report that we were given,” Skinner said.

Skinner said that “federal agents were using less lethal chemical munitions,” or gas, “as a deterrent [against] people that were trying to get through the holes in the windows.”

Eugene police did not make any arrests, Skinner said in a video interview released by the department.

“We simply walked in, with partners from Springfield Mobile Response Team, and created a barrier to protect the broken windows of the federal building,” Skinner said. The officers were also on hand to prevent anyone from entering the federal building unlawfully, he added. 

“Then, we left as soon as the federal government was able to take over the security of their building,” Skinner said.

Protesters described a stream of officers in brown uniforms — federal officers — coming out of the building at roughly 7:30 p.m. as chemical agents were deployed to try to disperse the crowd.

Skinner said police responded in part to avoid any escalation of force by the small number of Federal Protective Service officers inside the building before reinforcements arrived from Portland.

The Eugene police response also considered that there were civilian personnel inside the federal building, which houses an IRS office and other agency offices, Skinner said.

Eugene officers responded to “try and de-escalate this,” Skinner said.

“The last thing in the world we need is a deadly confrontation between protesters inside a federal building and our federal agents who are using a level of force that they feel like is necessary to protect the people inside of the building,” Skinner said.

— Jaime Adame

Here is the complete interview:

9:35 p.m.

An announcement has been repeated at least seven times over the past hour or so, from a loudspeaker on the federal building, warning protesters that this is an unlawful gathering. Dozens of demonstrators are still in the area. — Lilly St. Angelo

8:48 p.m.

Federal officers have deployed tear gas intermittently for the past hour at the federal building plaza and along sidewalks near Seventh Avenue and Pearl Street.

An estimated 100 to 150 people are still in the vicinity of the federal building block. Most of them moved back into the plaza after the latest release of gas and its dissipation around 8:45 p.m. 

William Jarvis, 22, a Eugene resident and student at Lane Community College said he was hit with tear gas pellets. First in the stomach and then in the face. 

He’s among those who moved across the street. 

“I was like, I can’t breathe. I can’t stay here anymore,” he said.

— Lilly St. Angelo and Ben Botkin

8:45 p.m.

Sam Howard, 20, and Sarah Haley, 19, said they stood near protesters who had formed a line with some makeshift shields. 

Howard said officers in brown uniforms then streamed out from the federal building and gas was deployed against the crowd.

The brown uniforms worn by these officers were different than the dark uniforms worn by officers, who had been standing still in a line between protesters and the building’s windows, Howard said.

Haley, her voice a rasp as she showed effects from the gas deployed a few minutes earlier at about 7:30 p.m., said it came out of small canisters. Neither Howard nor Haley were sure how the officers deployed the chemical agents.

“We started to back up. There was a point where the formation broke, and then we ended up moving off to the side,” Howard said. “Other people moved back, and then they just kind of pushed us out.” It happened in less than a minute, Howard said.

Howard and Haley said they hadn’t protested at the federal building until earlier in the week.

“We’re out here because we see the violence that’s happening every day. We see the oppression. We see the families being stolen,” Howard said, adding. “We’re demanding that ICE leaves, because they have no place in our community, they have no place in Eugene.”

— Jaime Adame

8:20 p.m.

Eugene Police Department spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said Eugene police officers did not use munitions and were no longer active on the scene.

8:05 p.m.

Eugene police officers had left the courtyard of the federal building sometime before 7:30 p.m., shortly before the federal officers emerged. Tear gas was released soon afterward.

7:55 p.m.

A volunteer for Medics for Collective Action Eugene estimated they helped two dozen people who were caught in a cloud of gas that extended from the doors of the federal building to the sidewalks at Pearl Street and Seventh Avenue. The medics used water and saline to help people as they ran away from the plaza, some coughing and gagging.

7:30 p.m.

Officers in black and camouflage uniforms have come out of the Eugene Federal Building and at least one flash-bang went off. Tear gas also billowed into the plaza. A protester leaving the scene said officers were shooting pepper balls. About 20 or 30 protesters were seen leaving the area after the flash-bang, and the tear gas seems to have cleared everyone from the plaza. Tear gas later was deployed into the street, as well. — Ashli Blow

7:05 p.m.

A few minutes after 7 p.m., about 15 uniformed Eugene police officers formed a line in front of the rotating door of the federal bundling — apparently to prevent protesters from getting near the building’s windows, which showed obvious damage. To the right of the door, a large glass panel was completely broken. To the left a panel was shattered. About 75 protesters were still present. — Ashli Blow and Jaime Adame

6:38 p.m.

Eugene police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin issued a press release at 6:38 p.m. saying: “The activity at the Federal Building at 211 E. 7th Avenue was declared a riot shortly at approximately 6 p.m. and people were admonished to leave the area. There were breaches in entry points. Some protesters breached the building and went inside. Occupants include civilian staff. Eugene Police’s presence is an attempt to keep things de-escalated.”

Lookout Eugene-Springfield has asked for clarification on protesters entering the federal building.

6:30 p.m.

Perhaps as many as 150 people lined up at all four corners of Seventh Avenue and Pearl Street, chanting at about 6:20 pm. The mood was festive, with people cheering at the many cars honking in support as they drove by on Seventh Avenue.

But a half block to the north, lights flashed blue-and-red on police cars parked on Pearl Street. An announcement from Eugene police vehicle repeated: “This is Eugene Police Department. You are engaged in an active riot. You are ordered to disperse the area immediately.” The announcement went on to say there may be tear gas and arrests if people do not leave. — Ashli Blow and Jaime Adame

6:20 p.m.

Three marked Eugene Police Department cars have arrived on Pearl Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, in front of the federal building, making announcements from the cars for protesters to clear the plaza.

6:15 p.m.

Shortly after 6:10 p.m., a voice on a loudspeaker ordered protesters to leave the area by proceeding through the courtyard. Failure to comply, the voice warned, could result in “detention, arrest or exposure to chemical agents.” — Michael Zhang

6:10 p.m.

As about 10 people yelled through the glass at uniformed people inside the Eugene Federal Building entrance facing High Street, a woman in a gray sedan at a red light on High St. said, “That’s not peacefully protesting.” She repeated the phrase three times. — Jaime Adame

6 p.m.

About 200 remained in the plaza of the federal building near the front doors. Another 100 people were milling around nearby. Some protesters were chanting, “Quit your job.”

Two protesters who said they were part of the group near the front, who did not want to be identified, said that other protesters broke part of a door. After that the flash-bangs happened. — Ashli Blow and Michael Zhang

5:53 p.m.

People on the scene of the Eugene Federal Building report two loud flash-bangs and what appears to be tear gas or smoke rising near the front of the building doors in the plaza. A flash-bang stun grenade is designed to produce a blinding flash of light and loud bang.

5:15 p.m.

The protest caravan that had traveled from Springfield to the Lane Events Center for a concluding rally has wrapped up. Organizers there were encouraging people to go to federal building, but it was not clear how many were doing that. — Ashli Blow

5:10 p.m.

By 5 p.m., the crowd of protesters at the Eugene Federal Building was noticeably smaller than a half hour earlier, but the banging on the building’s windows still continued. More than 100 people still seemed near the glass or within a few steps of the building’s windows that faced the courtyard. — Jaime Adame

5:05 p.m.

About 20 Eugene Police Department officers were seen staging about a block away from the federal building, near the Graduate hotel. — Michael Zhang

4:57 p.m.

Another 150 people or so stood just a few steps from the tightly-packed innermost crowd at the Eugene Federal Building, and most seemed to be chanting against ICE. At about 4:30 p.m., a uniformed officer could be seen inside the federal building, through the glass, wearing a gas mask. No announcements were being made to the crowd. — Jaime Adame

4:50 p.m.

At about 4:30 p.m., protesters at the Eugene Federal Building stood some three deep near glass windows and a revolving door near the inner courtyard, an area roughly 40 feet wide.

A few tapped on the glass. At times the taps turned to bangs, and one window pane showed obvious damage. — Jaime Adame

4:40 p.m.

Traffic from the demonstrators caravan moved slowly through Eugene. Some cars drove with their flashers on and held their signs out their windows. Many honked at one another. Some vehicles out their windows down and played Mexican music from 97.7, as suggested by Fisette.

Organizers with Party for Socialism and Liberation, who coordinated Friday’s caravan, estimated about 200 cars drove from downtown Springfield, through downtown Eugene and to the Lane Events Center.

People taped signs to their vehicles calling for justice for Alex Pretti, killed Saturday in Minneapolis by federal agents, and condemning ICE activity in the slow-rolling demonstration. Thus far, about 50 people have arrived at the Lane Events Center property near the ice rink for closing remarks.

A counter-protester reportedly tried to stop the caravan with a vehicle, delaying the arrivals of others, organizer Kayleigh Bronson-Cook announced through a megaphone to those waiting around 4:30 p.m.

Bronson-Cook and organizer Chris Case said they counted upward of 1,000 people at Springfield gathering. They believe this was partly because the Springfield event was more accessible to those nervous about demonstrating on federal property.

“We want members of our community to feel comfortable coming out and being able to raise their concerns and express themselves,” Case said. “Part of that is accommodating that and making sure that we can provide them safe spaces to where they’re, like, not in danger of getting snatched up by ICE, frankly.” — Ashli Blow

3:50 p.m.

The crowd demonstrating at the Eugene Federal Building has grown to more than 300 people. — Michael Zhang

3:30 p.m.

Rob Fisette with the Lane County Immigrant Defense Network chanted, “It is our duty, it is our right,” on the steps of Springfield City Hall. The crowd of hundreds responded “strike, strike, strike, strike,”

Fisette was one of several speakers took the steps to speak out against actions by ICE, support Minnesotans and talk about collective action. The “ICE OUT” event was part of the national day of action.

During the speeches in front of City Hall, two men with rifles walked into the parking lot across the street, grabbing the attention of some rally participants.

The demonstration lasted about an hour, and the group dispersed to their vehicles for a car caravan around Springfield and into Eugene. Participants not joining the caravan lined up along Main Street to cheer for the drivers, who honked in response. — Lillian Schrock-Clevenger

3 p.m.

Eugene police just before 3 p.m. issued a traffic advisory for heavy traffic congestion from Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue between Oak and Ferry streets, an area of about 10 blocks downtown.

Drivers in the area were advised to be patient with traffic and to watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists. Police estimated the restricted traffic to last until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. — Jaime Adame

2:10 p.m.

A few hundred people had gathered at the fountain plaza in front of Springfield City Hall for a planned 2 p.m. demonstration that was getting underway. — Lillian Schrock-Clevenger

1:45 p.m.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Eugene Federal Building, continuing a week-long streak of protests against ICE activity in Eugene.

Protestors held up signs, drew chalk on the sidewalk, and in some cases — brought crocheting and knitting needles — as tools of expression.

Jesse Burns showed up with a sign labeled “We Knit to Melt ICE,” and organized a group of 35 knitting protesters outside the building.

“With everything that happened on Tuesday, with the vigil ending with like police violence that just kind of broke my heart. And I was like, I want to show solidarity, and I want to show solidarity with Minnesota,” Burns said. “Knitting has been a form of protest since the Revolutionary War, World War II, and World War I. People have always knit in protest.”

Even while passing cars blared their horns in support, and protesters chanted, the knitters focused intensely on their work — specifically, making red hats. The pattern — a “Melt the ICE” hat— originated in a call to action from a yarn shop in Minnesota and references a design worn in Norway during the 1940s as a visual protest against Nazi occupation.

“It’s our way of bringing our community together, crafting together, bringing traditionally feminized, invisible labor out to the public, for everybody to see that crafters are against state-sanctioned violence,” Burns said. — Michael Zhang

12:50 p.m.

In much of downtown Eugene, storefronts opened doors for business, propped up sidewalk signs and went to work. Like most Fridays, they served customers burgers, inked tattoos, clipped hair and polished fingernails. 

But other businesses were closed for the day, with signs plastered on doors and windows blaring out the message in big, bold letters: “ICE OUT!” and “No business as usual!” The signs suggested passersby attend the gathering scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Springfield City Hall.

Normally, the Cowfish Cafe and Lounge in downtown Eugene opens at 10:30 a.m. each day, serving drinks, hot dogs and soup. In the evening, people gather for dancing.

But this wasn’t a normal day for Shawn DiFiore, the Cowfish’s general manager and owner. He’s not planning to open until 8 p.m. to host a benefit fundraiser dance party scheduled to last until 2:15 a.m. Saturday. It will raise money for local protesters “sprayed, attacked, arrested (and) detained by ICE,” the business says. The cover charge will start at $3.

“It’s a small sacrifice,” said DiFiore of the decision to stay closed for much of Friday. “But it’s a statement of solidarity.” — Ben Botkin

12:20 p.m.

The city of Eugene is not experiencing impacts to government services due to the Day of Action, a city spokesperson said in a text to Lookout.

12:05 p.m.

The event is not impacting the care of patients at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, a spokesperson said. “We are seeing no impacts in terms of caregiver callouts and patient volumes,” Jim Murez, a spokesperson for PeaceHealth, said in an email.

11:40 a.m.

Organizers of the “ICE OUT!” event in Springfield and Eugene did not share route details for the car caravan with the Eugene Police Department, spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said. McLaughlin said police had no plans to be present for the caravan.

11:05 a.m.

As demonstrators prepare to march and some businesses elected to close for the day, at least one person stayed on the job: Gov. Tina Kotek.

Friday, Kotek signed an executive order that establishes a new council to coordinate the response of state agencies to aid immigrant and refugee communities.

The governor’s office said this action comes amid “escalating and abusive federal immigration enforcement tactics that are destabilizing Oregon communities and spreading fear among families across the state.”

The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement will lead the council, with input from agencies that focus on education, health, housing and transportation.

“No one should be afraid to go to work, take their child to school, or ask for help because of who they are or where they come from,” Kotek said in a statement. “This executive order builds on the work agencies have been doing and takes the state’s response to the next level in order to protect families, support communities, and live up to Oregon’s values during a deeply uncertain moment.”

Lookout Eugene-Springfield correspondents Ben Botkin, Lillian Schrock-Clevenger, Jaime Adame, Michael Zhang and Ashli Blow contributed to this report.