Rally has different, peaceful tone
By Daralyn Trapp*
Oregon D*W £mmtM
Although many people at a
Sunday rally in Eugene expreaaod
relief that some measure of jus
tice came from the trial of four
I .os Angeles police officers, there
was also agreement that little jus
tice exists for minorities in every
day life.
The rally was organized by sev
eral groups to give community
members a chance to express
their feelings following Satur
day’s verdict in which two offi
cers were found guilty in federal
court of violating Rodney King's
civil rights. Two others were
acquitted.
This year's rally had a decid
edly different, more peaceful tone
than the one that took place local
ly April 29. 1992. the day after
a California state jury handed
down not guilty verdicts That
day. a crowd marched from the
University to the Federal Build
ing. also the site of Sunday's ral
ly. and the riot that ensued
resulted in thousands of dollars
PNjio tn tknmmy F*;**#*
About 80 paopla won at tha Fadaral Building Sunday aftamoon In
Euaana to oaaeatully vote* thair opinions on tha LA trial vardlct.
in damage to tin* building.
Marshall Sauted a. director of
the University's Office of Multi
cultural Affairs, said the riots that
took place here and in LA Inst
year were understandable.
"For many of us. we could not
condone the violence, hut wo
understood the source of the
anger and frustration,” he said.
"Now. there is n glimmer of hope
that justice is olive "
Thomas Coley, president of the
African -Ament an Community
Coalition, began the rally with
words others would echo Co lev
told the i rowd of about HO he
hopes the closing of this chapter
prompts the beginning of a (let
ter local effort in race relations.
VERDICT
Continued from Page 1A
"Whether the actions last year were right or
wrong, they have significantly increased aware
ness of racial conflict in Eugene." Hoop said.
While demonstrations aren't unusual at the Fed
eral Building, lost year's protest was taken seri
ously by occupants of the building, said Noel Ness,
physical security specialist for the federal protec
tive service.
Ness believes the rally changed the opinion of
many federal employees about protests.
-The employees on the first wing were trauma
tized and very upset." Ness said. "We have just a
different attitude toward demonstrations. We re a
lot more cautious.”
Prior to the announcement of this year's verdict.
Ness said the building was preparing for a possible
evacuation of the first floor if the officers wore
acquitted again.
The Federal Building's biggest struggle when it
becomes the target of protest is that people forget
there are regular people inside of the building, he
said.
Ness said the building represents the policy of
the government, and people don't realize they ore
attacking individuals whim protesting th« govern*
merit.
"I would wish the protesters in the future see
the humanity inside the building." Ness said.
Kugene polii e department spokesman Tim Birr
said he expected there wouldn't tie any major dis
order in Kugene following the announcement of
the verdict. People in Kugene have better relations
with the local police department than in l.A. he
said.
“Kugene is a very different community in terms
of police-community relations than l.os Angeles.
Birr said.
The police department. Hirr said, look what hap
pened last year seriously, and for three weeks prior
to Saturday's verdict, police worked with federal
officials and community leaders to organize a
peaceful rally and inarch to the Federal Building.
When an open forum is established for venting
opinions. Birr said, people tend to take advantage
of the opportunity and no longer rely on violence
to prove a point.
“We will do whatever we can to facilitate any
orderly march, rally or demonstration in a non-vio
lent. non-criminal manner,” Birr said before the
verdict was announced
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