If the judge would have allowed the jury to read a paper by Thaxton and hear testimony by an expert on historical anarchism, it would displace the stereotype of anarchists as maniacal bomb throwers, the anarchists said. Thaxton attorney Charles Porter, however, praised the judge even though she denied many of his motions. I couldn't have a better judge than she is. Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, expressed nothing but support for the jury's decision on the most serious charge to come from the June 18 riot, during which anarchists roamed through downtown Eugene, smashing cars and breaking several business windows. Nineteen people were arrested.
Peaceful protest is fine.
The jury acted on community beliefs about activism and protest, Police Chief Jim Hill said. To me this shows there's a real community value in this town that violence like this is not the appropriate way to get your message across. Courthouse employees were on alert during the trial, but the anarchists were peaceful from the opening gavel through the verdict. Some hid their faces in hoods or masks, others made masks to wear at a future protest. Police weren't a presence, except those occasionally passing in patrol cars.