Protest in Eugene leads to multiple arrests after disorderly conduct and traffic blockages

Eugene, OR – On May 1, 2025, a protest took place in Eugene, Oregon, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Park Blocks. The event started with a series of speeches from participants, followed by a march to Kesey Square. Organizers were present to ensure the event remained peaceful and made repeated announcements urging the participants to stay on the sidewalks while marching.

However, as the march progressed, several individuals began to disregard the organizers’ requests and walked into the street, blocking police vehicles and other traffic. At this point, organizers reached out to the Eugene Police Department’s Mobile Response Team (MRT) for assistance in managing the situation.

The protestors continued to block lanes of travel as they turned onto E. 11th Avenue, significantly impeding the evening commute. Despite efforts by MRT to allow the group to maintain safety on their own, the situation escalated when the splinter group blocked all lanes of E. 11th Avenue. This prompted officers to intervene in order to avoid potential confrontations with motorists.

Using public address systems mounted on their vehicles, MRT officers ordered the protestors to disperse from the street. Many of the protestors did not comply and even slowed their pace, exacerbating the situation. At one point, the group blocked a Lane Transit District bus on Willamette Street and 10th Avenue, further disrupting traffic.

To restore order, officers planned to arrest six individuals for disorderly conduct. The first arrest occurred at the southwest corner of E. 8th Avenue and E. Park Street, where 38-year-old Katherine Marcella Tromp-Van Holst was stopped by police.

As the officers approached Tromp-Van Holst, a crowd of about 20 individuals gathered, protesting the stop by yelling and cursing at the officers. The protesters were notably confrontational, with one individual even pointing out that there were more protesters than officers present.

With additional MRT personnel arriving to provide security, the situation became increasingly tense, with protesters circling around the officers. Despite the chaos, Tromp-Van Holst was arrested and transported to Lane County Jail on charges of Disorderly Conduct.

As officers were leaving the scene, the crowd continued to escalate their disruptive behavior, with one individual, 25-year-old Justice Ty Martinez of Springfield, striking the driver’s window of an MRT vehicle. Officers detained Martinez shortly after, and he was accused of spitting on a police officer. Martinez was arrested and booked into Lane County Jail on charges of Aggravated Harassment (a felony) and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.

In addition to the arrests, four other individuals were cited in lieu of custody for Disorderly Conduct. These individuals were identified as 37-year-old Conner Hoge Day, 23-year-old Sam Fialka Henry Janata, 23-year-old Cameron Alexandria Langley, and 27-year-old Bird Avery Margaret.

The Eugene Police Department continues to monitor the situation and encourages the public to maintain order during future protests. The department also reiterated the importance of following lawful instructions from law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of all involved.