Three Eugene City Councilors awoke today to find their homes had been extensively defaced with large anti-police and defund the police graffiti. Eugene Police has taken reports and is investigating. The City Council is scheduled to hear feedback regarding Community Safety Initiative survey results regarding budget allocations at tonight’s 5:30 p.m. meeting.
Statement from Mayor Vinis
“City Councilors have been targeted in a misdirected effort to intimidate and pressure them to pursue a specific goal of defunding the police. This City Council has embarked on a challenging and courageous path to explore ways to improve not only our response to the public safety needs of this community, but to the well-being of everyone who lives here, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ communities, and people struggling with homelessness.”
“To the people who sprayed graffiti, your anonymous actions are cowardly and counterproductive. You are only hurting yourselves. The rest of this community wishes to engage in a respectful and promising path forward, with civil discourse on these most important issues.”
Statement from Chief Skinner
“These brazen acts are potentially felony-level crimes, and the activity is an affront to our local government process and to our community. Attempting to intimidate elected officials by defacing their homes is criminal behavior. Our elected officials put in long hours, make themselves available, and do the heavy lifting to represent residents in their ward as well as the City. This graffiti is the opposite of free speech; it flies in the face of our local democratic processes. I am making sure we will investigate and hold the offenders accountable, as well as protect our elected officials.”
People with information about the graffiti are encouraged to contact the Eugene Police at 541-682-5111 and reference case 2107047.