Editing Eugene, Oregon (section)

=== Activism ===
{{Main|Community activism in Eugene, Oregon}}
The 1970s saw an increase in community activism. Local activists stopped a proposed freeway and lobbied for the construction of the [[Washington Jefferson Park]] beneath the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. Community Councils soon began to form as a result of these efforts.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 3, 1978 |title=Tiny Neighborhood Fights For Its Life |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gq5VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4899,579812&dq |access-date=July 18, 2020 |archive-date=July 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718193921/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gq5VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4899,579812&dq |url-status=live }}</ref> A notable impact of the turn to community-organized politics came with [[Eugene Local Measure 51]], a ballot measure in 1978 that repealed a gay rights ordinance approved by the Eugene City Council in 1977 that prohibited discrimination by sexual orientation. Eugene is also home to [[Beyond Toxics]], a nonprofit environmental justice organization founded in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beyond Toxics {{!}} Eugene, OR {{!}} Cause IQ |url=https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/beyond-toxics,931294227/ |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=www.causeiq.com |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122024752/https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/beyond-toxics,931294227/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

One hotspot for protest activity since the 1990s has been the [[Whiteaker, Eugene, Oregon|Whiteaker]] district, located in the northwest of downtown Eugene. The Whiteaker is primarily a [[working-class]] neighborhood that has become a cultural hub, center of community and activism and home to alternative artists. It saw an increase of activity in the 1990s after many young people drawn to Eugene's political climate relocated there.<ref name="harpers.org">{{cite magazine |date=May 5, 2000 |title=Notes from Underground: Among the radicals of the Pacific Northwest |magazine=Harper's Magazine |volume=May 2000 |url=https://harpers.org/archive/2000/05/notes-from-underground/ |access-date=July 18, 2020 |last1=Samuels |first1=David |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719121253/https://harpers.org/archive/2000/05/notes-from-underground/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Animal rights groups have had a heavy presence in the Whiteaker, and several [[vegan]] restaurants are located there. According to [[David Samuels (writer)|David Samuels]], the [[Animal Liberation Front]] and the [[Earth Liberation Front]] have had an underground presence in the neighborhood.<ref name="harpers">{{cite news |last=Samuels |first=David |author-link=David Samuels (writer) |date=May 2000 |title=Notes from underground: Among the radicals of the Pacific Northwest |pages=35–47 |newspaper=Harpers}}</ref> The neighborhood is home to a number of communal apartment buildings, which are often organized by anarchist or environmentalist groups. Local activists have also produced independent films and started art galleries, community gardens, and independent media outlets. [[Copwatch]], [[Food Not Bombs]], and [[Critical Mass (cycling)|Critical Mass]] are also active in the neighborhood.<ref name="ew">{{cite news |last=Abraham |first=Kera |date=November 9, 2006 |title=Flames of Dissent |newspaper=Eugene Weekly |url=http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2006/11/09/news1.html |access-date=November 15, 2011 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209061339/http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2006/11/09/news1.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Student encampment at the University of Oregon.jpg|thumb|The University of Oregon encampment on May 1, 2024]]
The 21st century has seen continued environmental and social justice activism. In 2011, the [[Occupy Eugene]] protests from October to December occurred in connection with the [[Occupy Wall Street]] movement, and these local protests included around 2000 participants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Network |first=The Oregonian News |date=2011-10-15 |title='Occupy Eugene' march planned Saturday afternoon |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2011/10/occupy_eugene_march_planned_sa.html |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, George Floyd protests occurred in May and June, including peaceful demonstrations and riots. These protests in connection with the nationwide [[2020 George Floyd protests]] resulted in increased consciousness towards Eugene's black history and race issues and resulted in the renaming of [[University Hall (University of Oregon)|University Hall]] and the toppling of the Pioneer and Pioneer mother statues at the University of Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=News |date=2020-05-29 |title=March in Eugene to protest George Floyd death takes destructive turn |url=https://kval.com/news/local/people-march-chant-in-streets-of-downtown-eugene-to-protest-george-floyd-death |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=KVAL |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=E. W. |date=2020-06-11 |title=Fighting for Change |url=https://eugeneweekly.com/2020/06/11/fighting-for-change/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Eugene Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Protesters tear down pioneer statues after Deady Hall protest |url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/breaking-protesters-tear-down-pioneer-statues-after-deady-hall-protest/article_3526f140-adec-11ea-8f06-2bb6cab42c73.html|access-date=January 5, 2025|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614063236/https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/breaking-protesters-tear-down-pioneer-statues-after-deady-hall-protest/article_3526f140-adec-11ea-8f06-2bb6cab42c73.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2023 and 2024, pro-Palestinian demonstrations were organized by many different activist groups across the city, and saw major events like marches with hundreds of participants, the April 15, 2024 I-5 protest which blocked southbound I-5 traffic for hours and resulted in the largest mass arrests in Eugene activist history <ref>{{Cite web |last=Desaulniers |first=Robert |date=2024-04-15 |title=More than 50 arrested after protest that shut down Interstate 5 Monday morning |url=https://www.kezi.com/news/more-than-50-arrested-after-protest-that-shut-down-interstate-5-monday-morning/article_1df18bc0-fb4f-11ee-bee2-f7775b004319.html |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=KEZI 9 News |language=en}}</ref> and the [[2024 University of Oregon pro-Palestinian campus occupation]] as part of the [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses|2024 pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Oregon students set up encampment to protest Gaza conflict |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/30/university-of-oregon-students-set-up-encampment-to-protest-gaza-conflict/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=opb |language=en}}</ref>