Monday, January 7 at 10:30pm
Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at 8th & Oak, Eugene
Celebrate freedom, stand up for your rights, and stand in solidarity with community members who wish to legally challenge Lane County’s unconstitutional curfew at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza. Bring joy, cookies, protest signs, and musical instruments.
Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution states the following:
“No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.”
The Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza “curfew” is an unconstitutional restraint upon free speech and public assembly, and this is a call to action for all citizens of Eugene to stand up for the Constitution and the right to protest 24-7 in traditional public forums such as the Plaza. Our aim is to have the curfew declared unconstitutional in a court of law. To achieve this, SLEEPS in conjunction with local activists is planning a day of protest followed by a night of celebration and civil disobedience next Monday, January 7th. Free speech and unhoused activists along with other community members, both housed and unhoused, intend on being arrested in numbers for violating the Plaza curfew.
We invite you to come in celebration and solidarity to make a statement to City and County government that we as a community will not accept the violation of our constitutional rights. This will be a party, a celebration, a joyous expression of our freedoms under state and federal law. There will be music and treats and wonderful people. Sometime after 11pm, Eugene Police will request that we clear the plaza. Those who do not wish to be arrested will be free to leave and will able to stand on the sidewalk. Those who wish to be arrested will remain in the plaza. As a united force, we plan to plead not guilty to the charges and assert our constitutional rights in court as a community.
For more information email alley[at]practicalrabbit.com