The NAACP Eugene-Springfield Branch is celebrating 50 years of civil rights work with a Freedom Fund Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Shedd. The branch started in 1976 as a volunteer organization without paid staff, a permanent office or established programs. Over five decades, its leaders and volunteers responded as civil rights issues facing Lane County changed.

“You know, I can remember him talking about I am somebody and reminding that, you know, there is a a value uh to each and every person in the community, but uh just, you know, being strong as African-Americans, but being unified as a people group and standing up for each other. that that was really a big thing…” — Demond Hawkins, President

The 2026 NAACP Annual MLK Jr March wound its way through the Nobel Peace Park which honors Dr. King and 23 other American recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Over 1,000 people joined this march in Eugene, Oregon.

"Let's just be honest you know there's two different types of messages out there one is going to be of division sand this one is going to be of of how do we unify and be together how do we you know be the community you know that that uh that thrives and responds together." - Deon Hawkins

“This is an important moment in our history and it shows us that it's not just black history but that black history is American history and that the history of the black peoples here in Eugene is Eugene history it's Lane County History.” - Andiel Brown - Managing Director