November 25, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE press [at] occupyeugenemedia.org
Occupy Eugene Protests Black Friday
Eugene, OR-Approximately 100 Occupy Eugene protestors converged in a flash mob at the Valley River Center mall at 12:30 a.m. on Black Friday to protest corporate greed and mass consumerism. The group peacefully sang political carols with lyrics that exposed their message, encouraging people to spend time with their families rather than spending money on material objects often produced in sweatshops overseas.
After peacefully dispersing from Valley River Center when asked, protesters moved to the Wal-Mart store in Delta Oaks. When protesters were asked to leave the store, they did so peacefully and promptly.
Protesters then converged at Wal-Mart on W. 11th and were not clearly asked to leave, but did so in a matter of 15 minutes. Protesters then gathered in the parking lot for an end of the night closure where Occupy Eugene protester John Monroe spoke out, saying “We have reached out here tonight. We saw in the faces what an extended hand can do for the rest of the 99% and my personal request is that we continue to learn how to reach out.”
As the group was about to disperse, the Eugene Police Department arrested one protester without warning. Police stated that the protester was being arrested due to not leaving when asked.
“It was not clear that we were being asked to leave, but we were in the process of dispersing when one of us was arrested,” said Katie Dee, an Occupy Eugene protester. “We believe he may have been singled out because he was holding a megaphone.”
Like Occupy Eugene’s November 17 action against banks, this protest was peaceful. In each location tonight where occupiers protested and were asked to leave, they did so promptly and peacefully.
This press release has been approved by the general assembly of Occupy Eugene.
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