Protesters gather outside Wayne Lyman Morse Federal Courthouse in Eugene, Ore. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
Brian Bull / KLCC
Presidents Day is usually low-key, an observance more about mattress sales and car dealerships. But across the U.S. including in Eugene, protests against President Donald Trump and DOGE head Elon Musk were held.
Outside the Wayne Lyman Morse Federal Courthouse, hundreds of people waved signs denouncing Trump’s second term and Musk’s mass firings of probationary federal employees, among other actions.
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Rogene Manas of Eugene sported an umbrella with anti-Musk and anti-Trump messages. She was there with her friend, Clare Feighan.
“God bless America, and all the wonderful people in it. And let’s band together and stop this takeover. It should be a democracy for all the people,” Manas said.
“Trump is not a king, he was elected to be an administrator. And there are three branches of government, he needs to be reminded of that on a daily basis,” said Feighan.
The president, Musk and congressional Republicans have defended the administration’s actions. In a statement on his Truth Social account, Trump posted “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
Brian Bull is a reporter with KLCC. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
