Eugene City Council to review public safety budget as protesters grow bold

The Eugene City Council began to envision how they might review the city's public safety budget in light of protests against police brutality, even as protesters grow bolder in their tactics.

Protesters in eugene are taking their message about defunding the police straight to the mayor..

They showed up at lucy vinis' house last night... demanding answers about the new budget.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg joins us live from that neighborhood to explain.

Chris?

Matt, renee-- protesters with bipoc liberation collective say they're frustrated with the city council's approach to reviewing the public safety budget-- in fact one protester burned this sign on the street last night symbolizing their anger that eugene police are still fully funded and not abolished.

In this video you can see the group of around 100 asking vinis questions-- and booing some of her answers.

Vinis tells us she sees this new tactic as a replacement for protesting at city council meetings which are being held virtually during the pandemic.

One of her neighbors was actually in that crowd as a protester and tells us it was largely peaceful.

The mayor was really trying to be polite, be respectful, understand.

At time she asked for help understanding a subject she might not be aware of// i think it was beautiful.

She did a great job.

Could have done better at points.

Vinis tells us this group has been very vocal and is heard... but the city council needs to hear from other communities too... the council began discussing what some sort of task force on reviewing the public safety budget could look like in a work session today-- but ultimately postponed a decision until their july 20th