City & Government, Creswell, Public Safety & Health

Caravan a short, uneventful ‘parade and protest’

A participant in Saturday’s caravan in Creswell. Photo by Bob Williams of Flashbox Studio.

CRESWELL – Roughly two dozen pickup and other trucks made a slow, 20-minute drive down 5th Street and Oregon Avenue, honking horns, waving flags, and clogging intersections shortly after noon today.

The vehicular caravan used the abandoned Foster Farms chicken processing plant as a “staging area.” There we no participants on foot or horseback.

Sgt. Scott Denham confirmed the group did not have any permits; the low levels of participation and parade-watchers made public safety less of an issue. A Lane County Sherrif’s Deputy was visible during the event.

Vehicles line up at the Foster Farms chicken processing plant on 5th Street in Creswell. Photo by Bob Williams of Flashbox Studio.

The Saturday caravan was promoted online via digital and social media sites. A flyer labeled the event “A Prohibited Activity Parade and Protest,” and trucks in the parade carried flags and signs supporting political agendas and false claims of the 2020 presidential election results.

A letter published on an anti-government website stated the parade was formed to protest and defy City leaders and local law enforcement after two citations were issued following a Fourth of July parade in Creswell earlier this month. Organizers of that event – who also never applied for permits, according to Denham and City leaders – violated local laws in organizing and participating in the parade.

Creswell resident Julie Bivens and Cottage Grove resident Chris Tough received citations totaling more than $2,500 each. Bivens is scheduled to appear in Creswell court on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m.

Instagram

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

The Chronicle (@thechronicle1909) • Instagram photos and videos