This story includes contributions from several KLCC reporters and editors, including Zac Ziegler, Nathan Wilk, Macy Moore, Natalie Pate and Chris Lehman.
Several protests and marches were held in Eugene and many other Oregon communities on Friday, May 1 as part of a nationwide day of protest. It was tied to May Day, which has historically served as a day of protest in support or workers' rights.
Many of the protesters at an afternoon gathering at the Wayne Morse Plaza in downtown Eugene held signs objecting to the Trump administration. Later, the protesters marched around several city blocks, led by a group of drummers, before returning to the plaza as the rally concluded.
Among the assembled was Patty Hine, whose group Eugene 350 brought monarch butterfly signs to the event.
"We’re here in support of immigrants," said Hine. "This is a 'Day Without Immigrants' day and a day for labor. And this has become our little flock, they’re called a kaleidoscope of butterflies. These are the only monarchs we need."
Other protests were planned throughout the day, including on the University of Oregon campus.
In the early evening, dozens of people gathered at Washington Jefferson Park and marched to Eugene School District 4J’s central offices in protest of recently announced layoffs.
4J has announced it will cut 269 positions next school year. The district has to address a $16 million gap before adopting its budget at the end of June.
At the event, Morgan Raikes-Bennett, a district employee and member of the Oregon School Employees Association, accused 4J of mismanaging its money.
He argued it should’ve focused more on cuts to administrative positions, rather than areas like Nutrition Services that he said students rely on.
"It's a huge blow to the people that are the backbone of the organization that provides safe and enjoyable school experiences,” Raikes-Bennett said, “and they're being denied their benefits."
There was an incident at the gathering when around 10 protesters confronted a photographer they’d told to stop taking photos of them.
A group of attendees forced the photographer away from the protest, calling him a “fascist.” One of them splashed water into his face.
