Eugene riot destroys parts of Downtown

Eugene riot destroys parts of Downtown

Nation... protesters came from across western oregon to express their sorrow.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg followed the protest overnight as it developed from rage and frustration to lawlessness.

A protest illuminated by fire-- nats but starting peacefully- getting out of hand as word spread over social media.

"i saw some live feeds on facebook and i decided to come and check it out."

Protesters livid at the alleged murder of george floyd.

" it is not black versus white, it's not black versus anybody.

It is white and black and every other race versus racism.

So we are going to come together we are going to march peacefully.

We are going to do what we have to do.

But there will not be peace until there is justice.

Period."

Gathering at 7th and washington... some blocking traffic and vandalizing property.

"this is one of the first fires that started this evening.

Protesters took these dumpsters from local businesses tonight-- chanting through smoke and tear gas, all in the name of george floyd.

The crowd growing to between 3 and 4 hundered at it's peak... some coming from roseburg and corvallis.

Nat as glass flew-- some were astonished at the violence-- others justified it.

"there's a reason people are angry."

At 12:30-- a first round of tear gas from police... only a temporary setback for many.

Nat amidst the panic-- one woman was leading chants of sorrow and rage at police brutality-- but not condoning the violence.

"i want him to be heard.

He couldn't breathe and apparently cops couldn't hear that he couldn't breathe.

So we are going to keep chanting 'i cant breathe' and we are going to keep chanting his name."

Others looted businesses-- we saw them stealing cell phones and setting fires inside a starbucks.

Nats and then a march downtown to kesey square.

Police nats a police line at the ready... driving back the protesters with tear gas.

A night driven by pain and sorrow... "we're talking about 'we can't breathe and we are burning holes in the ozone layer with all this trash we are burning up.

I don't see this solving anything."

As eugene reflects on the state of the nation we live in... "we are the people.

We are the police.

We are the army, we are the navy, we are the air force.

We are the judge, we are the jury.

That is us.

We are the people.

So what we need to do is check ourselves."

Reporting in eugene, chris lueneburg.

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