Eugene mayor pleads for peace

Presenter After federal agents engaged with protesters in Eugene, the mayor issues a statement. On Jan. 28, Mayor Kaarin Knudson: 

Kaarin Knudson (Eugene, mayor) I just want to make a brief statement, given the real concerns that are in our community right now and some of the difficulties that we’re facing locally and as a country. 

And so I will just say that it has been a difficult and painful past couple of weeks for our community, as people struggle to make sense of the very visible and unconscionable violence by federal agencies in other communities that has resulted in people being being shot and killed on the streets. 

And also the continued concern for the persecution of neighbors, our own neighbors, neighbors across this country, due to the trajectory of federal actions.

As I said at a vigil organized by our local healthcare workers last night for Alex Pretti, our community is going to continue to stand together in this difficult time, and we are going to continue to work towards the safety and belonging of everyone in this community and these circumstances put us under particularly difficult types of pressure. 

I want to say that as we continue to work towards lasting change—and there are efforts underway at the state level, at the federal level, also locally—we also have to recommit to keeping one another safe. We are dealing with a federal administration that seems very focused on intimidation and retribution and retaliation in their actions. I will be meeting with our police chief, our independent police auditor, Council leadership, executive leadership at the city to discuss the additional steps that we can take to address the reckless actions of federal agencies in our communities. We very much want for people here to feel and to be safe. 

I also want to ask our community again to stand together, to recommit to peaceful protest and community engagement, and to remain calm. It is incredibly important that we remember that moments like last night, where hundreds and hundreds of people were gathered to honor the life of a community member and ICU nurse in Minneapolis, Alex Pretti, who was killed, that we can protest effectively and peacefully. And it’s really important that we take care of each other and stand together in this work. 

I also want to ask that while temperatures remain high over these coming days, and we’re gathering more information about what has been happening locally, that any peaceful protests that are happening at the federal building near that site, if they can be across the street and distant from that property—physically visible to our community, unified in voice, and peaceful. 

I have real concern for engagements between different agencies and members of our community, and I want people to be safe. So that is a request I have for our community.

Everyone has the right to peaceful protest and to due process, personal safety. I just want you to know that your community is very aware of what has been happening. Your leaders are very aware and we’re concerned for everyone’s safety. And we are trying to de-escalate situations where we do not have a partner as focused on that same concern. 

(You’ll) be hearing much more from me in coming days. We’ll continue to be working on this issue, as we have been for many months and just want to, in closing, appreciate our local nurses, health care providers who organized a very peaceful vigil last night, very powerful, and important touchpoint for our community and to everyone in our community who is committed to positive change and taking care of each other and building a community here where everyone feels, feels at home and a part of the future that we have.

Presenter Mayor Kaarin Knudson pleads for peace during the City Council work session Jan. 28. Follow our reports from local residents exercising their constitutional rights right here on KEPW 97.3 Whole Community News.