Hello!

I'm in front of the shiny silver monstrosity that is the Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse in downtown Eugene for a rally hosted by the American Descendants of Slavery, or ADOS.

The rally is titled "Where Do We Go From Here: Reclaiming the Movement."

BEGIN THREAD

I'll be honest, I don't really know what to expect from this event. I don't believe it'll turn into another tense standoff between protestors and/or cops and counter-protestors.

Then again, I thought the same about last week's march in Thurston.

The ADOS, it should be noted, is not an explicitly police reformist or abolitionist group. Their focus is on economic justice for Black Americans–specifically ones that can trace their lineage back to former slaves.

The group has a mixed reputation as far as Black-led justice organizations go. Their anti-immigrant stance and focus on economic justice has earned them plenty of detractors on the left while receiving a moderate amount of praise on the right.

Ann Coulter likes them, fwiw.

Black Unity is not officially affiliated with ADOS, but they have encouraged their followers on Instagram to attend tonight's rally.

Isiah Wagoner, formerly of BU and currently of the Minority Freedom Network, has also encouraged his followers to attend this event.

It's a few minutes past 5, and there are maybe a dozen people here. Everyone is hanging out in the shade to get out of the hot August sunshine.

The people organizing tonight's event are wearing American flag t-shirts with the stars arranged into "1619," the year that the first African slaves arrived in the colonies (and likely inspired by the NYT's "1619 Project.")

28 minutes into the event and the crowd has grown to around 50 or so people. They've started playing music over their (pretty sweet) sound system and encouraging the crowd to dance and sing along.

Only one person started dancing.

There's a full-on DJ here, like, with a turntable and everything.

Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis is here. She's currently chatting with the organizers up on the steps of the courthouse.

And wouldn't you know it, Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner is here too.

I may or may not have pissed off Chief Skinner by taking his photo.

The speakers are getting started. The Mayor is scheduled to speak at 7.

First speaker is leading the group in prayer.

After the prayer, speaker stresses the group's desire to stay "respectful" and "peaceful." Says that he expects opposition but doesn't want people to respond with "aggression."

The NAACP, BU, the City of Eugene, Congressman Manning, Councilor Greg Evans, and, Chief Chris Skinner, and City Manager Sarah Medary, among others, are all endorsers of this event according to this first speaker, who did not introduce himself.

Speaker says that this event is here to "reconcile" with the police in Eugene and Springfield. Also refers to the protests in Portland as "the riots" before correcting himself immediately after.

Speaker says that he was in Portland recently and expresses disappointment that the groups in Portland could not explain why they wanted to defund and abolish the police, nor that they could name leaders of their movement.

"People were calling for the abolition of police, but no one could tell me why... It felt like they were keeping things vague on purpose."

Speaker says that he doesn't want this movement "hijacked" or "appropriated" by violence.

The first speaker is introducing George Russell, an "educational consultant" and former superintendent of the Eugene School District.

Russell takes the podium.

He's speaking about his experience with personal and systemic racism during his time as an educator. He's invoked the Black Lives Matter movement and stresses that "Black Lives haven't mattered" in this community.

Russell is speaking about his experience with segregation in the 50s and 60s. Calls out the fact that there aren't a lot of Black people in the crowd.

Russell is stressing the importance of "keeping their eyes on the prize" is warning about being "distracted and co-opted by those who have different agendas."

In the next sentence, he invokes the leaders of the Civil Rights era, including John Lewis, Stokely Charmichael, and Huey Newton as examples of peaceful leaders that people can look up to.

"Keep marching, keep protesting... As John Lewis would say, good trouble, necessary trouble."

I find it interesting that Mayor Vinis is sitting on the steps with the organizers.

First speaker is back up.

He says that he found the idea of abolishing the police "problematic" before meeting with BU and coming to understand that it means "transferring money away from war tactical gear."

Seems he's confusing "abolish" and "defund."

"If all lives matter, then the police should never have to choose which lives matter more."

New speaker is up. I didn't catch their first name, but their last name is Stroud.

They've said the words "American Descendants of Slavery" and referred to George Floyd as "Brother Floyd."

Says that this group wants reform and said that they've met with Chief Skinner.

Speaker says that Chief Skinner has agreed to certain reforms.

Someone rides by on a bike and calls that statement "bullshit."

First speaker returns and says "there are those who would wish every protest become violent."

Now he's introducing a Duke professor of economics, Dr. Sandy (something?) who has studied the economics of Black America.

For the second time, the first speaker invokes the "First Black families" of Eugene, who were pushed out by city ordinances in the early days of Eugene.

Says that eugene has their own problematic history to reckon with.

Just kidding, he's introducing UO professor Lily Parker.

She's making the claim that she's the "first Black baby born at Sacred Heart Hospital." Says that her parents were labeled "white" on her birth certificate.

Mentions that the KKK used to run Eugene.

Invokes the Civil Rights Era and the nonviolent training she received under MLK Jr. Says that she's the product of a "faith-based, non-violent movement."

For the third time, John Lewis's name has been said by a speaker.

Parker says that her entire family suffered from racism and discrimination. Says she dealt with that at UO as well, toward herself and her students.

Parker aays that people turning protests violent are personally "hurting" her, as a Black survivor of the "nonviolent" civil rights era.

"If you're gonna represent me, represent me with decency and order."

Then she steps away from the mic.

First speaker is back on.

Now he's getting into the ADOS agenda. Mentions that the terms "minority" and "BIPOC" are "problematic."

Claims that "single white mothers" benefit more from affirmative action than Black people do.

"We do not get the benefits of the work that we do... We have to be specific about what we do and who we are."

Says that ADOS have been "lumped into" terms like BIPOC, "who do not suffer the same fates that ADOS do."

The crowd is extremely confused following that speech.

Talia Stroud is speaking now. Says her father was a police officer in Eugene and invokes her Christian faith as the reason for her activism.

Says that Jesus Christ has been "misrepresented" by the Christian Church.

Stroud says that BIPOCs have to "take up their own causes" rather than to take credit for the work of "ADOS."

Ends with a quote from John Lewis and gives it back to the first speaker.

First speaker asks if the people here have "learned anything today." People clap politely.

Says that people can't just go to rallies and then go home–action has to follow.

Carmen Meyers is speaking now.

She's here to talk about "next steps."

Shouts out a few more endorsers, including Linda and Rick Hamilton and Jennifer Spurlock(?).

Shouts out Chief Skinner's "promise" to reform the EPD.

Says she believes that "we have a chief of police that's willing to do reform."

Says that the Mayor and City Manager have agreed to form teams and committees to address the concerns of Black people in the community. Also says they're going to work with state and local legislatures.

Goes into a Bible verse. Very faith based group, it seems.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if our city... Could be a model for what reconciliation looks like to the state and our nation?"

First speaker is back, and is now introducing Mayor Vinis and calls for "unity."

"We have to be single minded and single focused."

"The City of Eugene recognizes the need for reconciliation."

Says that there's work to be done to reform the police.

Vinis has explicitly said "American Descendants of Slavery" on the mic.

Short speech, very rehearsed, very neutral, and very much the work of a politician.

Joshua Stroud is speaking now, shouts out BU and senator James Manning. Plugs a blood drive later this week.

Now a woman is singing the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Seems like this will be ending soon

The first speaker is closing things out now.

Says that no one up on the steps will be seen at a protest march, because their job is to "research" and "educate."

"We will not work in ignorance."

Says to be on the lookout for more information soon.

Looks like things are wrapping.

There's no sign of counter-protestors or police presence (other than Chief Skinner and his security detachment).

Gonna head outta here in a second.

Thanks for reading!

One last thing:

I forgot to shout out my journalist crew @jwcroxton @RNGDave and @JanuszMalo for also being out there. Check their coverage too for anything I might've missed.