EUGENE – Around 1,000 people met up on a cold Monday morning at Autzen Stadium to join the Eugene-Springfield National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) march and celebration.
What started as a few hundred people gathered outside the icy X’s and O’s on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. grew into nearly 1,000 folks as they walked through Alton Baker Park and over to The Shedd Institute. Kiddos as young as three and people over 80 stood side by side in puffer jackets and gloves with signs to petition solidarity.
The march was in collaboration with “A Day Without Immigrants,” highlighting the contributions of immigrants to the economy and society.
“It’s so important to be out here,” said marcher Mary Addams. “It’s an honor to be here.”
The University of Oregon’s acrobatics and tumbling team provided entertainment and support while folks waited for the march to start.
“As a team, we kind of decided, with our coaches, to come here and welcome everybody that’s doing the walk today,” Ava Gowdy said.
Opening remarks were given by NAACP president Demond Hawkins, Springfield mayor Sean VanGordon, Eugene mayor Kaarin Knudson, last year’s Springfield march leader Sasha Chang, and Oregon Senator James Manning.
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“I’m grateful to the city of Springfield for being able to march with Eugene as one unified community and the importance of dignity and respect for people,” VanGordon said. “It feels like we live in a divided time right now, when we come out together as a community, and we work together, and we just serve people, regardless of where they come from, that is an act of leadership. I’m so grateful to be with you today.”
Sen. Manning shared a reflection of Dr. King’s dream, one of unification, marching in together, arm in arm, and side by side. He also noted the importance of voting.
“Remember one thing, your vote is your voice,” Manning said. “Let me tell you something, I served 24 years doing military service, I was willing to give my life so that you can vote. If you do not vote, and I don’t care where you vote or who you vote for, if you do not vote, then it means that my efforts and all those who gave their lives to protect the vote here in America are in vain.”
North Eugene High School students led the march through Alton Baker Park, where folks could check out plaques for the three Black Nobel Peace Laureates, including Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Bunche, and Barack Obama.
The roughly 2-mile walk concluded at the Shedd Institute, where Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) tabled for their organizations.
Black Cultural Initiative, NAACP, Beyond Toxics, Comunidad y Herencia Cultural, League of Women Voters, and HIV Alliance were some of the organizations offering information at The Shedd. At around 11 a.m., celebrations began in a performance room with Pastor Carl Stubbs reciting Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. NAACP members also gave remarks.
