Thousands of people gathered Saturday at a series of "No Kings" protests across Oregon, as part of a nationwide event aimed at expressing displeasure with the Trump administration.
In the Eugene-Springfield area, the largest planned event was at Springfield City Hall, where protesters heard speeches, sang songs, and planned a march on local streets.
Neil Penn, an organizer with the coalition that's coordinated the "No Kings" rallies in the Eugene-Springfield area, was hosting an information table near the performance area.
Penn said the protest was about more than just the administration's immigration policies, which have been the focus of many smaller protests in Eugene over the past year.
He pointed to Trump's decision to launch a war with Iran in late February.
"This was a Trump distraction away from the hypocrisy of his presidency," he said.
Previous "No Kings" events in Eugene-Springfield have been held in Eugene. Penn said this version was held in Springfield to connect with other demographics, including the Latine community.
“Because with the insidious activities of ICE and the mistreatment of members of the Hispanic community, we decided that the first act of solidarity is to have it in Springfield, working in partnership with a wide range of Hispanic social justice organizations,” he said.
Protesters also gathered at the Eugene federal building Saturday afternoon, which has been the site of frequent demonstrations over the past year.
Demonstrations were also scheduled Saturday in smaller communities, including Coburg, Junction City, and Elkton. Protests were also planned in larger towns including Corvallis, Albany and Roseburg.
This is the third nationwide protest effort under the "No Kings" label since Donald Trump took office in January 2025.
Ofelia Santiago was one of the invited speakers at the Springfield protest. Santiago is a naturalized citizen from Mexico. She said she’s heard from many families who’ve had ICE agents detain and deport relatives, regardless of their citizenship status.
“It hurts me. It hurts me because we're here to, you know, have a better life, for our children, to work hard,” said Santiago. “And for us to be treated this way is for me, they're just treating us like we're not human beings. And that hurts.”
Critics say President Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown has been brutal, violent and unchecked. Opposition grew after federal agents killed two protesters in Minnesota earlier this year.
Since the last “No Kings” rally in October, Trump has launched an intensified crackdown on immigrants, started a war with Iran, and his tariffs have proven unpopular—as well as illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sandy Lynn is with the singing protest group, The Raging Grannies. As a community elder, she recalls protesting back in the 60s and 70s.
“We were very important at ending the Vietnam War. I feel like people coming out for that it worked, and now I feel like it's working again," she said. "But boy, we have to stand up for democracy.”
The Raging Grannies sang several songs as people continued to stream into the streets ahead of the march. The music was largely parodies of popular patriotic anthems and folk songs, with an anti-Trump slant.
“The Raging Grannies have been around since 1986,” said Lynn. “In these years, these Trump years, the Raging Grannies went from a group of about 10 regulars to nearly 25. We have been so busy.”
By the start of the march, thousands of people were gathered at Springfield City Hall. Some were wearing inflatable frog constumes, which became iconic during Portland’s demonstrations against ICE operations last year.
Carolyn Hartman was among those in a frog costume.
“You cannot see in here, but I'm an old person with gray hair, and I am terrified for the young people," said Hartman. "What is happening to our country? What kind of country are we leaving to the young people? I just had to make my voice heard, and hopefully this all ends when enough of us say ‘No.’”
Thousands in Corvallis
In Corvallis, several protest marches converged in front of the Benton County Courthouse, which is the typical site of protests in the city.
Thousands of people turned out for what one participant estimated to be among the largest protest events in recent memory in the college town.
Ayla Harris said it was her first protest in Corvallis, and was there to speak out against current administration.
“I just want to be part of my community (and) show support because what's going on in the economy right now is just, it's terrible," she said. "Gas prices are high, people are suffering, and you know, I'm just here to show my support today.”
Drew Cribbs said it was his first No Kings protest and he hoped that people know there is a community to support them in Corvallis.
“It's awesome to see the community coming together like this and everybody supporting each other," he said. "It builds a lot of community that I feel like some people don't have or know that exists.”
More photos from Eugene and elsewhere in Oregon
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KLCC 's Macy Moore, Nathan Wilk and Zac Ziegler contributed to this story. It was edited by Chris Lehman.
