The federal General Services Administration (GSA) received a one-week extension to dismantle the security fence enclosing the downtown Eugene Federal Building plaza. The removal work is scheduled to start by July 1 and must conclude by early July 2, reopening the formerly restricted plaza before the July 4 celebrations.
This decision follows a lawsuit filed by local activists challenging the fence’s presence on the grounds it violates their First Amendment right to assemble and protest. The court’s preliminary injunction mandated the fence’s removal after the GSA failed to provide a clear timeline for relocating the barriers that had blocked access to the open plaza.
U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled that the fence should be moved back to the building’s immediate perimeter, specifically to the entrances and windows, thereby restoring public space for demonstrations. The case arises amid ongoing protests since early 2025 at the Eugene Federal Building against immigration enforcement practices and federal policies under President Donald Trump. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, an incident in late January escalated to a declared riot after police said windows were broken.
Lauren Regan, representing the Civil Liberties Defense Center, stated that the judge emphasized the importance of having the plaza accessible for planned Fourth of July protests. The court will reconvene shortly after the removal deadline to assess whether the GSA complied or is in contempt for not following the order.
Despite the GSA’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court to halt the removal order, Judge Kasubhai found the appeal unlikely to succeed and denied any stay. He pointed out that the government’s burden to remove the fence is minimal compared to the significant impact the structure has on the public’s free speech rights.