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Thurston protest that sparked controversy to soon be investigated, Springfield mayor says


A Black Unity protester is treated by a medic after being sprayed in the face with wasp killer by an All Lives Matter counter protester. Approximately 150 Black Unity protesters marched through the Thurston neighborhood in Springfield Wednesday evening. At about 9 p.m. the protesters arrived at a Springfield police-manned roadblock. After about a 30-minute standoff, the protesters began to push against the barriers, which led to a physical confrontation and arrests. Photo by Robert Scherle
A Black Unity protester is treated by a medic after being sprayed in the face with wasp killer by an All Lives Matter counter protester. Approximately 150 Black Unity protesters marched through the Thurston neighborhood in Springfield Wednesday evening. At about 9 p.m. the protesters arrived at a Springfield police-manned roadblock. After about a 30-minute standoff, the protesters began to push against the barriers, which led to a physical confrontation and arrests. Photo by Robert Scherle
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SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - The protest in Thurston that sparked controversy will soon be under investigation.

We spoke with Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg Thursday, who says that plan will go through as soon as the appropriate person is found for the job.

It comes as calls continue for changes in law enforcement and the community.

Footage from a protester was released on social media last week.

Protesters are concerned with a particular scene where police officers are seen putting one man in handcuffs.

It was how they were doing it that sparked calls for review.

Mayor Lundberg says with the unrest that comes with protests lately, in general, she wants to come up with solutions that recognize everyone.

"Because if the goal is to have a community we all want to live in, and be in a community that's welcoming and accepting of each other, then we have to put that fear and anger aside," said Mayor Lundberg.

Right now the mayor and city manager are searching for an expert in use of force to conduct the investigation during the moments when the man was seen being dragged from the crowd in Thurston and placed under arrest.

But protesters like Sarah say the man did nothing wrong.

"They arrested him and they also assaulted him after they arrested him. He wasn't fighting; he wasn’t resisting arrest. Protesters went into defense mode; they were scared for him and scared for his life," said Sarah, a member of the Thurston protest, who did not want her last name released.

The mayor says a Blue Ribbon Panel is being formed that won't just look at police practices, but how issues are looked at as an entire city.

She says this would be a panel that requires everyone to come together and talk.

Springfield Police Chief Richard Lewis will be interviewed Friday morning in response to the protests.

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