Eugene Protests Escalate into Riots
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Eugene, Oregon, spiraled into violence on Friday night, leaving the city on high alert. The demonstration, part of a nationwide ‘National Shutdown’ initiative calling for ICE to withdraw from urban areas, began peacefully outside a federal building around noon. Demonstrators carried signs criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
As evening fell, tensions rose. Federal officers deployed tear gas and irritants sporadically to control the crowd. By 9 p.m., local police declared the event a riot after some protesters breached the building, which houses IRS offices and other agencies. Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner noted that limited federal presence required his team’s intervention to safeguard the property.
Tear gas deployment intensified around 10:15 p.m. in the courtyard, dispersing most of the crowd. No arrests occurred that night, though the incident prompted widespread evacuations.
Trump’s Stern Warning to Protesters
On Saturday, President Donald Trump labeled the Eugene protesters as ‘highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists.’ He directed ICE and Border Patrol to adopt a ‘very forceful’ approach in defending federal properties nationwide.
In a Truth Social post, Trump stated: ‘Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees. Local Police did nothing in order to stop it. We will not let that happen anymore!’ He further emphasized: ‘There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.’
Trump also instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold assistance to ‘poorly run Democrat Cities’ amid unrest unless explicitly requested. He added: ‘Therefore, to all complaining Local Governments, Governors, and Mayors, let us know when you are ready, and we will be there – But, before we do so, you must use the word, “PLEASE.”‘
Similar Unrest in Los Angeles
Parallel demonstrations erupted in Los Angeles on Friday, where protesters approached a federal prison in downtown. They clashed with officers, who formed a shield line before firing pepper balls and tear gas. Dramatic scenes included a protester swinging a skateboard at a shield and police launching non-lethal rounds to scatter the group.
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order near Union Station shortly before 9 p.m., giving protesters 10 minutes to leave. Officers reported facing thrown bottles and rocks upon advancing. LAPD Central Division activated a tactical alert after federal personnel encountered debris.
As the evening progressed, authorities arrested individuals described as ‘violent agitators’ for actions including fighting officers and using a slingshot to fire metal objects. Mayor Karen Bass confirmed five initial arrests, later updated to eight: six for failure to disperse, one for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, and one for curfew violation.
During a Friday press conference, Bass called for peaceful demonstrations, stating: ‘I think the protests are extremely important, but it is equally important for these protests to be peaceful, for vandalism not to take place.’ She added that such violence aligns with what the administration seeks to provoke.
Nationwide Context of Protests
These events follow a surge in demonstrations after federal agents fatally shot Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this month. Thousands marched in Minneapolis on Friday, chanting ‘Whose streets? Our streets!’ In New York City, protests convened at Foley Square, near multiple federal buildings, highlighting growing opposition to immigration enforcement tactics.
