As a people of faith, we are called to witness the state violence taking place across our country. And, as we see yet again with the Breonna Taylor verdict, those lives have meant little to nothing in the eyes of the court when they are taken by police. We have watched in dismay as both the police and white supremacist groups respond to calls that Black Lives Matter with force and violence.
Over the last few months, we have witnessed police in Eugene and Springfield meet Black Lives Matter protestors with aggression while they ignore the dangerous behavior of white supremacist counter-protestors, treating them with gentle indifference.
As people of faith, we believe that Black Lives Matter.
We believe that if we are going to build a beloved community where every person is safe, valued and respected, we need to hear the voices calling us to confront the systemic racism that exists in our society.
As people of faith, we call on Springfield’s city leaders, including the chief of police, to clearly and publicly denounce white supremacy and white supremacist organizations, and declare their dedication to a just and anti-racist Springfield.
As people of faith, we call on a transparent and open process in the appointment of an interim mayor with the selection of a candidate with a proven commitment to racial equity.
As people of faith, we demand police accountability.
We must work together to seek justice and peace for all.
Ryan Doppelmayr
Challenging Racism Committee
Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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