Several community members are traveling from Eugene to Washington D.C. to participate in “America’s Journey for Justice” march. Supporters and elected officials gathered for the sendoff in downtown Eugene on Thursday.
“America’s Journey for Justice” began in Selma, Alabama on August 1 and will end in Washington D.C . The Eugene/Springfield NAACP president Eric Richardson is marching with his daughter and members of the group SURJ—Showing up for Racial Justice. Richardson thanked the community for supporting social justice efforts.
Richardson: “I think it’s a very important time that we live in there’s a lot of changes going on in the world. And as you see if you watch the news there’s a lot of angst and a lot of violence going on. And we want to stand here as proponents of peace, non-violence and we support peace wherever we can find it.”
Springfield mayor Christine Lundberg spoke about the importance of equality.
Lundberg: “I understand the commitment it takes to continue the fight for voting rights, education, health care, criminal justice and jobs equality. The fight requires all of us to take a stand and speak up for the rights that we should all enjoy without fear from discrimination and bigotry.”
The 860 mile march concludes on September 16 with a rally in the nation’s capital.