Dozens Protest ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Shirts Sold at Lane County Fair
Dozens of community members gathered in front of the Lane Event Center’s main entrance beginning at 6 p.m. on July 26, one day after online outrage was sparked by the Lane County Republicans’ booth selling “Alligator Alcatraz” t-shirts at this year’s Lane County Fair.
The Eugene Police Department, expecting the protest because the flier had begun circulating online the previous evening, set up a “free speech zone” with metal crowd barriers. Naturally, a mobile surveillance unit was placed adjacent.
One officer walked up to the protesters as they began arriving and said the space had been made for them so the sidewalk wouldn’t be obstructed. The protesters did not use it and opted to stand outside the barricades.
Not long after the protest began, a motorist in a 2000s Toyota Highlander drove through an opening in the unused so-called “free speech zone,” struggled to maneuver their way back out, and was confronted by the EPD officer.
“That looks really safe,” one of the protesters yelled at the officer.
Another joined in, “Yeah, thanks for setting up such a safe area for us. Great job, EPD.”
At its height, the protest included approximately 40 people and there are unconfirmed reports that there was a second, smaller gathering of protesters at the fair’s rear entrance.
By 8:20 p.m., the protest had ended. A subsequent protest for July 27 at 11 a.m. has been announced.
These shirts glorify ICE, detention of innocent citizens, torture and kidnapping. I hope that the public response is enough to convince the Fair Board that allowing this merchandise in the future will be too much of a pain to deal with. Please contact becky@laneeventscenter.org and let them know.
Oh, please, what has happened to free speech? I forgot, it’s only when you agree with the woke mob that it’s free speech. When did Americans get so immature?