“Save the Children” Protesters Protest Child

Protest surrounding an 11-year-old participating in Drag Storytime spilled over into a tense standoff.

By: Bentley Freeman and Jake Moore

Published on: 10/23/2022

“Let kids be kids,” said Allison Black, a security guard and bartender for Old Nick’s Pub, “A little girl wanted to read stories to other kids. And these people decided to come out here, threaten her life and threaten our lives.”

A group of 40 to 50 right-wing protesters who gathered across the street from Old Nick’s to vulgarly protest the 11-year-old girl participating in a drag storytime event inside were met by an even larger crowd of around 250 counter-protesters on Sunday, Oct. 23. 

The protest, which was announced on Facebook days after Old Nick’s Pub promoted its monthly drag storytime, was dwarfed by the counter-protesters carrying pro-trans and LGBTQ+ signs and banners, and even a few weapons. Right-wing troll Andy Ngo amplified the event with a a nationwide anti-gay narrative of “pedophiles” and “groomers.”

At first, the two groups stayed across the street from one another, only launching verbal insults and quips — but eventually, the harsh words turned into even sharper rocks.

Counter-protesters arrived in droves to defend the pub and voice their support for the little girl. Members from both groups arrived around 9:45 am with several being armed with AR-15-style rifles on both sides of the street.

Read the rest on Eugene Weekly’s website here.

A left-wing counter-protester picks up and throws back a yellow smoke canister launched at them by right-wing protesters across 1st Avenue.

Counter-protesters and protesters meet in the middle of the road to dialogue and argue about what is taking place inside Old Nick’s public house.