This year marks the 25th anniversary of the [May 21, 1998] Thurston High School shooting. Over the last 25 years gun violence has shattered our sense of collective safety. We have learned we are not safe in churches, schools, grocery stores, banks, doctor’s offices or concerts. We have learned no place is sacred, and no person is exempt.
In my own life I have lost my brother, cousin and childhood neighbor to self-inflicted gunshot wounds. I was in nursing school at Umpqua Community College in 2015 when eight students and the instructor were murdered by a mass shooter. I was not on campus that day. I could see the classroom from my home across the street and had taken a class in that room. In October 2017 my cousin was shot in the foot in the mass shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas. This is not normal. When did it become controversial to say we should not have to live in fear of random violence?
June 2 to 4 is Wear Orange Weekend. The Wear Orange Movement began in 2015 following the death of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15 year old, who was shot by a stranger on a playground in Chicago. Orange is the color hunters wear to keep themselves and others safe. We wear orange to call for an end to all gun violence, including suicide, domestic violence and accidental shootings. Please come to Island Park in Springfield from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday, June 3, to remember the victims of gun violence and honor the survivors.
Anne Wright
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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