Todd Boyle visits the weekly protest in South Eugene

Todd Boyle: Okay, so we are out here on July 28, the Monday vigil at 29th and Willamette in South Eugene. And so I’m just going to ask people, there’s about 25 people out here and I’m just going to ask ’em: What’s their main issues?

[00:00:16] Indivisible protester: I think there are three issues. One is that a lot of decisions the government has made just don’t make good sense, like giving up on USAID. I also think that, a lot of ’em are illegal, which, you only have to read the newspaper almost every day to see how the federal courts feel about that. And a lot of them just represent my opinion: No moral compass, no scruples. Take immigration, you know, the widespread deportation, for example. So there are lots of issues.

[00:00:47] Todd Boyle: Yeah, and I like your sign: ‘Democracy, not autocracy.’ What’s your biggest issue that makes you come out here?

[00:00:53] Indivisible protester: Well, I just feel like Orwell is coming true, and 1984 is here, and so we need to get our country back. You know, this is so anti-democratic and very fascist, dismantling all the agencies, all the checks, the Congress, the courts. That has me so worried because nobody seems to be stopping it.

[00:01:16] And I think by getting out on the streets, we can have some effect, as well as calling our own senators and rep. We know how they feel, but we can say thank you and please try to reach out to people across the aisle. And so that’s probably it. Now there’s, there’s so many issues.

[00:01:32] Todd Boyle: Yeah. And I like, I like your sign ‘Shameful and cruel. We want our country back.’

[00:01:41] I’m collecting comments for KEPW. There’s 25 people out here on the corner. KEPW is the alternative radio here in Eugene. So what’s your main issue? Why are you standing out here?

[00:01:51] Indivisible protester: We’re seeing infantile behavior in the White House and the kind of things that 12-year-olds do: resentment, hate, and division. And what we really need is someone who can be more of an adult and respond.

[00:02:05] Todd Boyle: Respect. The sign says ‘Respect and unity, not division and hate.’

[00:02:09] Indivisible protester: And that’s kind of where I’m at and that’s why I’m here.

[00:02:11] Todd Boyle: Yeah. I dig your, your hat, Central Lutheran Guatemala Trip in 2007. (Yeah.) Here’s another fellow. ‘We have met the enemy and he is ICE.’

[00:02:22] Indivisible protester: Yes. Well, I would probably give you an idea of one of the issues that’s come up to me is the secret police grabbing people off the streets, grabbing U.S. citizens off the streets, and people, where they have no warrants, they have no actual reason to do it, just other than the color of their skin or perhaps if they’re protesting people being arrested, so.

[00:02:43] Todd Boyle: Or if they’re just flat racist, I mean, (Yeah. Yeah.) Thank you. So here is ‘Stop fascism.’ And what’s your main issues? Like what, what drives you out here every week?

[00:02:54] Indivisible protester: Well, one of the things I’m really concerned about is the Palestinian issue. I think that’s really terrible that we’re engaging in genocide and I don’t understand why this country hasn’t learned from the Nazi regime. And why do we have to repeat the whole thing over again? Why don’t we just take a clue and not do it anymore.

[00:03:17] Todd Boyle: Can I ask you what issues are that drives you out here every week?

[00:03:22] Indivisible protester: Well, I’m retired so I can come out here and hold up a sign when other people have to work. I’m a retired public school teacher, so I know what needs to change.

[00:03:41] Todd Boyle: I love your sign: ‘Tax the rich.’ Thanks.

[00:03:43] Indivisible protester: That’s where it’s all, all comes from.

[00:03:45] Todd Boyle: And cut the military budget.

[00:03:47] Indivisible protester: Well, if we tax the rich, we’ll be way ahead.

[00:03:52] Todd Boyle: Yes. Hey, can I ask you, what’s the issues that makes you come out here every week?

[00:03:56] Indivisible protester: I do not like the way Donald Trump treats human beings.

[00:04:04] Todd Boyle: Right on.

[00:04:05] Indivisible protester: Yeah, that’s it. Justice, liberty, the choice to be able to do what and be what you are and not have him deny that possibility for many people.

[00:04:18] Todd Boyle: And the sign says ‘Liberty and justice for all.’ Thank you very much. So what are some of the main issues that brings you out here?

[00:04:26] Indivisible protester:  Liberty and the right to privacy and the right to move as a citizen in the world, in America, and to observe humane rights. And then there’s also the issue about, I’m gay myself. And so there’s that issue about being gay and being okay with being gay and Pride and—

[00:04:51] Todd Boyle: Yeah, I love the Pride shirt. And the sign says ‘Keep calm and resist Trump.’ Nice and clear. (Thank you.) Thank you very much. Can I ask you, what are the main issues that that brings you out here every week?

[00:05:05] Indivisible protester: The bum Trump. We need to get rid of him. We need somebody in there that knows decency.

[00:05:14] Todd Boyle: Can I ask you like, what are the biggest issues that brings you out here every week?

[00:05:21] Indivisible protester: Probably the way Americans are being treated: Immigration, LGBTQ, just overall and, yes, that’s big on my list.

[00:05:33] Todd Boyle: So like discrimination types of issues? (Discrimination types of issues.) And the sign says ‘Shame on ICE.’ Right on. (Okay.) Right on.

[00:05:40] Indivisible protester: That, for me, it’s, it’s the rule of law, trying to subvert the Supreme Court, trying to make the president of the king, and what the judges have to say doesn’t matter.

[00:05:53] Todd Boyle: And he’s canceling entire programs that were passed by Congress.

[00:05:56] Indivisible protester: Yeah, I think the whole thing is scary.

[00:06:02] Todd Boyle: Hey, can I ask you, what are the main issues that brings you out here every week?

[00:06:08] Indivisible protester: National politics and I have a whole list. You know? I just think the main thing is we have got to get people out to vote so that we can get rid of all the inappropriate politics that are going on at the national level.

[00:06:25] Todd Boyle: And the sign says, ‘United we stand. Liberty, freedom, justice for all.’ Yes.

[00:06:33] Indivisible protester: I’m out here because I want to resist this fascist authoritarian regime and all the issues that need to be addressed in our country that are not being addressed.

[00:06:43] Todd Boyle: Thank you. And the sign is ‘No kings, no fascist tyrants, or Nazis,’ with American flag features.

[00:06:50] Can I ask you, what are the reasons that brings you out here every week?

[00:06:55] Indivisible protester: Well, basically I hate Trump. Everything he does. Is that enough?

[00:07:03] Todd Boyle: Good stuff. Can I ask you, what brings you out here every week? The things that you care about the most?

[00:07:09] Indivisible protester: Well, I care about our democracy, which I believe is in grave danger under this administration. So that’s what brings me here. And I find a lot of support, you know, with all the people here and all the people honking at us and thumbs up. It reminds me that, you know, I’m not alone.

[00:07:30] Todd Boyle: So you’re saying that the policies that are being done by the federal government don’t reflect democracy and they don’t reflect people’s will.

[00:07:39] Indivisible protester: Yes. And they don’t reflect our Constitution, so yeah.

[00:07:47] Todd Boyle: ‘We rise by lifting others.’ Great sign. ‘By lifting others.’ Yeah. Thanks. So what brings you out here every week?

[00:07:58] Indivisible protester: Just stand up for people who live in this country and should deserve to be treated decently. That’s all.

[00:08:06] Todd Boyle: And the sign is ‘Stand Against Tyranny.’ Hey, what brings you out here? What issues, you know, are most—

[00:08:15] Indivisible protester: Oh, where should I start? I mean, there’s so many, you know? This is the only way we can protest in peace, you know, so we were just talking about it, like, there is hope out there for freedom and to have our country back. That’s what I’m looking for.

[00:08:37] Todd Boyle: And the sign says, ‘Please pay attention and speak up. Things are dangerously not normal.’

[00:08:46] Indivisible protester: So is this thing really recording? It’s very tiny.

[00:08:52] Todd Boyle: What are the issues? You know, like the ones that really stirs you up the most?

[00:08:55] Indivisible protester: Oh, geez. A president who has no respect for the law, just does what he wants. Yes, apparently molests young women, young girls, whatever.

[00:09:05] Todd Boyle: I was wondering when somebody would mention that I’ve talked to 25 people and you’re the first one.

[00:09:09] Indivisible protester: We’re sending bombs to Israel, you know, so they can kill people. You need to stop that.

[00:09:16] Todd Boyle: So what I, like, what issues bring you out here the most, that really—

[00:09:20] Indivisible protester: Well, let’s see. I think the thing that’s the most disturbing to me is seeing those face-covered people dragging people off the streets. It sounds too much like Nazi Germany and everything is frightening to me. It’s just losing our country right before our eyes and you know, we don’t, this is what we can do. So we’re doing it every Monday.

[00:09:50] Todd Boyle: Thank you. So like, what issues really get you out here every week?

[00:09:56] Indivisible protester: The absence of the rule of law, complete disregard for the rule of law and the three powers of our government. The Constitution, for instance. How about that? How about the Constitution and the courts and the, well, they’re the three parts of the government, the executive, the legislative, and the courts, and everybody’s failing us. Everybody.

[00:10:17] Todd Boyle: And the sign says, ‘Hands off Social Security.’ Well, right on. I need mine.

[00:10:22] Indivisible protester: That’ll be next.

[00:10:22] Todd Boyle: What issues really moves you out here every week?

[00:10:26] Indivisible protester: What issues don’t? I don’t know where to start. The whole thing is falling apart.

[00:10:34] Todd Boyle: It reminds me of that Network movie where the guy opens the window and yells out, ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!’

[00:10:40] Indivisible protester: Take it anymore. Yeah. Right. Exactly. Exactly.

[00:10:43] Todd Boyle: And the sign says, ‘Dump Trump now, if not sooner. He never worked a day in his life.’ That’s it. So what are the issues, like really what drives you out here every week?

[00:10:56] Indivisible protester: Just Trump’s massive cruelty to all the people other than his rich buddies. It is just awful.

[00:11:07] Todd Boyle: I’ve got to confess, I have like a gut reaction against authoritarians.

[00:11:11] Indivisible protester: Mm-hmm, absolutely. I mean, I love that sign that says he never worked a day in his life, ’cause he hasn’t. I mean, he’s been just an opportunist who has conned his way into this office and he is not suited for it.

[00:11:34] Todd Boyle: So can I ask you, what are the things, you know, the issues that drives you out here the most? Every week?

[00:11:40] Indivisible protester: Too many to mention, they’re just so numerous.

[00:11:40] Indivisible protester: Every week it’s another one. You can’t believe there’s a whole new terrible issue every stinking week, but there is, you can look at the alligator now.

[00:11:55] Todd Boyle: It’s, I’m recording this for the KEPW radio. Good sign there. It says, ‘Free Palestine.’ Thanks for your alligator sign.

[00:12:07] Indivisible protester: It’s inspired by the Republican booth (at the Lane County Fair).

[00:12:09] Todd Boyle: So I’m seeing 10 over on that corner. I’m seeing seven on that corner. That’s 17 and I’m seeing six on that corner. So that’s 23. And then on this side we have more like over 20, so it’s like something like 43.

[00:12:34] Ask not for whom the horn honks. It honks for you.

[00:12:49] So I’m asking people, what is it that that brings you out here every week? What? What issues?

[00:12:55] Indivisible protester: There’s so many issues, unfortunately, due processes, my sign says and the terrorism against immigrants and those perceived to be immigrants. I could go on.

[00:13:13] Indivisible protester: Well, you can see on my sign all of the things that I’m concerned about, but I think it’s extremely important for people to register their protests because if we don’t stand outside and we just accept it and we don’t protest, it looks like we’re accepting all the terrible things that are happening.

[00:13:35] Todd Boyle: And the sign says, ‘No kings and yes to: medical care, food, education, due process, democracy, and clean energy.’ Thank you. (Hi). So I’m asking everybody what is their main issue, you know, that brings you out here every week?

[00:13:51] Indivisible protester: I guess I would say loss of democracy. This is not normal and I love my country, can’t stand my government.

[00:14:02] Todd Boyle: So you’re saying that the government isn’t reflecting the will of the people?

[00:14:05] Indivisible protester: Absolutely. And it’s a bully government.

[00:14:10] Todd Boyle: Thank you. And the sign says, ‘I love my country. Can’t stand my government.’ There you go. ‘No sign is big enough to express my outrage.’

[00:14:21] Indivisible protester: Well, I don’t like the corruption, the cruelty or all the disinformation that’s coming out, and I’m especially upset about not doing anything about Gaza and the starvation there. So upsetting. So upsetting.

[00:14:37] Todd Boyle: Thank you. What are the issues that bring you out here every week?

[00:14:41] Indivisible protester: For me it has a lot to do with campaign finance reform and End Citizens United ’cause not much is going to change until we get the money out of politics.

[00:14:48] Todd Boyle: Perfect. The sign is about the biggest sign out here: ‘End Citizens United. Campaign finance reform now.’ Yep. Right. Oh man. Yep. That’s what I like is a single-issue focus. (Yeah. Yeah.) Can I ask you, what is the issues that brings you out here the most? Every week?

[00:15:04] Indivisible protester: Oh, everything. Everything, you know? Yeah. It just is not for the people. We need it to be for the people.

[00:15:13] Todd Boyle: All right on. And the sign says, ‘Only you can prevent fascism.’ And it has a big picture of Smokey the Bear. That’s pretty good.

[00:15:22] His sign says, ‘Diversity is our strength.’

[00:15:24] Indivisible protester: Yeah. No, I’m basically in for all of it, you know, I mean, we need sanity in government. ‘We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare—’

[00:15:39] Todd Boyle: ‘And secure the blessings of liberty,’ he shouts. So that’s an advocate for a general progressive agenda. It’s no big mystery.

[00:15:49] Oh, so finally I’m over to the fourth corner. And I’ve been asking everybody, what are the issues that brings you out here every week?

[00:15:58] Indivisible protester: Just Trump’s cruelty, and he seems to be trying to do everything wrong, you know, and backsliding everything good that was happening, in terms of environmental protection, protection of minorities. yeah.

[00:16:12] Todd Boyle: Like he’s erasing everything. DEI. What is that? He’s eliminating the Civil Rights Act, you know? Yeah. He doesn’t want, he doesn’t want equality and housing or education or anything.

[00:16:22] Indivisible protester: Right. I absolutely agree with you. I mean, it’s just so many things, you know?

[00:16:28] Todd Boyle: That’s right. Where do you start? Oh, and the sign says, ‘Mr. President, we need a heart, and not a hat.’ And it has a picture of a MAGA hat.

[00:16:37] Indivisible protester: I’m here because America is aspirational as a beacon of democracy. And right now we’re the opposite of a beacon of democracy.

[00:16:47] Todd Boyle: Yeah, we’re becoming a global pariah and the sign says ‘Every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. here at 29th and Willamette.’ The shirt says ‘Indivisible.’ Now those are a collector’s item. So what are the issues that brings you out here the most?

[00:17:02] Indivisible protester: The corruption and the lies that enable the corruption. You know, they’re getting away with things based on lies and the corruption is devastating and it’s being allowed. They’re bypassing laws, ignoring laws.

[00:17:25] Todd Boyle: And so you’re saying that it’s a largely a problem of corruption, so you’re saying that a lot of the things they’re doing are just to get rich?

[00:17:32] Indivisible protester: Yes, and I don’t think it’s largely any one thing. It’s so many things.

[00:17:41] Todd Boyle: Thank you, and the sign says ‘Lies affect lives.’ What brings you out here the most, every week?

[00:17:51] Indivisible protester: I want our country to go back to being one that’s, pro-protective and enhancing of our environment and our people.

[00:18:04] Todd Boyle: Thank you. And the sign just simply says, ‘Stop Trump.’ Can I ask you, what brings you out here most every week, and what issues, you know, or how would you say it?

[00:18:16] Indivisible protester: Oh boy. I think every issue. Really this week it’s Gaza and the starvation campaign in Gaza that’s troubling me the most. That our government, our U.S. government isn’t doing anything to stop. Last week it was, and it continues to be, the situation with immigrants and ICE detentions. Yeah. And the community here is wonderful. People are so great.

[00:18:43] Todd Boyle: Thank you. And the sign says, ‘Food not bombs in Gaza.’ Can I ask you what brings you out here the most every week?

[00:18:53] Indivisible protester: Nobody is paying attention and we just have to keep showing up and saying, ‘This is not right, this is not right, this is not right.’

[00:19:00] Todd Boyle: Right on. So you’ve got an Indivisible shirt too. That’s awesome. I do. And the sign is ‘Impeach the president and his SCOTUS enablers.’ Yes. Oh, the other side is ‘MAGA stands for Mean, Angry, Greedy, Afraid.’ Yeah. Can I ask you what issues really stirs you up the most?

[00:19:21] Indivisible protester: Oh, I would say the jeopardizing of not having health care for everybody. That’s my main concern, is making sure everybody’s taken care of, and we’re doing a terrible job of that right now with the vision of getting worse. And you shouldn’t have to die because you’re poor.

[00:19:42] Todd Boyle: Thank you. And the sign says ‘Trump is weird.’ What issues brings you out here?

[00:19:50] Indivisible protester: Oh, well, everything, the corruption. My sign’s like old, more like for when DOGE was, but they’re still in there doing stuff, you know? It’s like we just have to get rid of these people. I was like, I’m doing what I can. Otherwise I stay home and brood and. I feel awful. And so I’m out here doing what I can.

[00:20:10] Todd Boyle: It’s healthy to get on your feet once in a while. (Yeah. Yeah. To get out, just kind of, you know) And the sign says, ‘Hands off our country.’ And it’s another one of those Indivisible shirts. Right on.

[00:20:27] Can I ask you, what are the issues that brings you out here the most? Every week?

[00:20:32] Indivisible protester: Anything against Trump that I can do, I will be there. Yeah.

[00:20:37] Todd Boyle: And the sign says ‘Resist Trump.’ Yes. Very succinct. Short and sweet. Yeah.

[00:20:41] Indivisible protester: Join us.

[00:20:42] Todd Boyle: So can I ask you like what issue brought you out this week?

[00:20:45] Indivisible protester: It’s everything: our democracy, the authoritarianism that’s taking over, trans rights.

[00:20:57] Todd Boyle: And there’s a list of every progressive issue on your shirt. Pro-immigrants, pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ equality, anti-fascism. You’re Antifa! Yeah. Anti Oh, you’re, you’re against oligarchy, billionaires and hate. Good job. So, can I have your shirt? (laughter) Okay. Yeah.

[00:21:24] Indivisible protester: We’ve been, I live about a mile away and I every Monday would pass this thinking, ‘Oh, that’s right there. They’re, I’m going to join them.’ So it’s been a couple of months of saying, ‘Oh, it’s Monday again.’ So we finally put it on the calendar.

[00:21:40] Todd Boyle: Thank you very much. And so that is a good, wrap up for 43 people out here today.