A one-man vigil in Eugene’s Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza by Eric Jackson – a protest against sweeps of homeless sweeps by Eugene police – has ended in a verdict of guilty of misdemeanor trespass this week.
Jackson was arrested and charged with trespass in February of 2019. He challenged his arrest based on his first amendment rights of free speech – a challenge which was denied in municipal and circuit court.
Sarah Alvarez, an attorney with the Civil Liberties Defense Center who defended Jackson, said to KLCC that “it was very much an effort to cast Eric as just another homeless individual camping where he wasn’t supposed to camp.”
Looking at the “Right to Rest” act, House Bill 2215, which would give homeless people more rights if sleeping in public spaces, Alvarez said, “In Oregon, cities and police officers continue to target unhoused individuals for sleeping and targeting when we all know that we don’t have enough beds and resources for people.”
By Sally K Lehman
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