A federal judge in Eugene says the fence at the downtown Federal Building must be removed.
Temporary fencing, as seen in this May 1, 2026 photo, surrounds much of the Eugene federal building, blocking off access to a courtyard where protestors gathered during a Jan. 30 protest that was declared a riot after windows were broken. A federal judge said Monday, June 22, ordered the fence to be removed.
Zac Ziegler / KLCC
Judge Mustafa Kasubhai announced in court Monday that he was granting a request for a preliminary injunction against the federal government.
He said the fence could be reinstalled in the future if it allowed more access to the upper courtyard.
Kasubhai said while the government has an interest in protecting its building, the courtyard is a “traditional public forum.”
The government blocked off the area in April after a riot was declared at a protest in January.
Local activists are now suing over free speech and accessibility concerns.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Nathan Wilk 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.
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