The Eugene City Council approved a resolution condemning white nationalism, seditious activities, and extremist groups during a Jan. 20 work session.
The new resolution is based on a similar one passed in 2019 that denounced white nationalism and alt-right activities and groups.
Councilor Vice President Claire Syrett said this resolution was sparked in part by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“We made references [in the resolution] to specifically what happened at the nation's Capitol and our state’s Capitol around members of white supremacy groups bearing symbols of hatred and intimidation including nooses, signs and clothing that valorize Nazi war crimes, waving the Confederate Flag, that they were armed with many types of weapons," Syrett said.
Syrett called these acts and the violence against law enforcement during a presidential transition seditious.
This resolution also acknowledges Eugene as occupying Kalapuya land, and the harmful effects white supremacy has on marginalized groups.
At the same meeting, councilor Mike Clark offered an apology for remarks he made during a Jan. 11 meeting where he suggested protesters affiliated with Black Lives Matter and Antifa should be condemned as well the insurrectionists.
"I made a mistake...and I need to address it," Clark said. "In my zeal to encourage my colleagues not to fan the flames of those on the political right with things they might say I ended up fanning the flames of people on the political left with what I said because I just wasn’t careful enough,” he said.
Clark said racism offends him to his core and that the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, including those waving Confederate flags were anti-American.
The resolution passed unanimously 8-0.
Copyright KLCC 2020
