Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the federal building in Eugene on Sunday to protest ICE after a man was shot by federal officers in Minnesota the day before.
The protest, organized by multiple activist organizations, came one day after a smaller, impromptu protest was held Saturday after the news broke.
The crowd grew in the two hours of the protest, with community members lining 7th Avenue holding up signs and fists as cars passed by and honked in support.
“We've just kind of been brainstorming ways that we can make an impact, because we don't feel right just sitting on the sidelines when stuff like this is happening in our country,” said Hazel Fiedler, a University of Oregon freshman who attended the protest along with a classmate, Sophie Gordon. “We were excited to hear that this was happening today, and we're really grateful to be able to be here and with all these people who care about this.”
Gordon said she felt a civic responsibility to support the protest against ICE.
“I think it's important to show solidarity and show out and show people that there's people in the community that care. It's just important that people see that,” she said.
As young members of the crowd, they said they showed up for the causes they are passionate about, and to create a better world for the next generation.
“Although I'm young, I've seen enough to know what I value, and what I want to show out for and stand up for,” Gordon said.
“We're seeing some even younger kids here than us, and our mindset is, we're fighting for ourselves, but we're also fighting for that next generation, so those people can grow up in a place that's different than this,” Fiedler said.
Protestors chanted “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” and “ICE out for good.” Volunteer organizers handed out flyers and stickers.
One of the volunteers declined to give her name because she feared getting doxed. She said she felt uneasy after hearing the news of the second fatal shooting this month in Minneapolis.
“I think I share this feeling with a lot of Americans, most Americans today that this is really scary, because the federal government is going around and murdering people,” she said. “And the federal government has decided on their position toward each individual instance before even looking at the facts.”
She said the large crowd is reassuring and energizing, and that these examples of peaceful civil resistance can have an impact on the presence of ICE in cities like Eugene.
