EPD preparing for post-election protest

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project released a study ranking Oregon as one of the top five states with the potential for election violence.

New tonight at 11-- with less than a week from election day, there is growing concern about potential violence.

Thank you for joining us, i'm chynna greene.

Kezi nine news reporter connor mccarthy spoke with eugene police chief chris skinner and his departments preparations for election night.

Chynna-- the armed conflict location and event data project-- or a- c-l-e-d released a study earlier this month ranking oregon as one of the top five states that could see election violence.

A-c-l-e-d is non profit that tracks political violence across the world.

Portland police are already preparing for possible protests and eugene police are the doing the same.

Eugene police chief chris skinner says they're intelligence isn't showing any large breakouts like what the city saw at the end of may... but they're still preparing.

Chief skinner says he supports the freedom of expression but his biggest concern is people's emotions on both sides of the political spectrum will get the best of them.

He says over the 30 years he has worked in public safety-- this election is like no other with multiple factors adding to the heightened emotions.

It's just a culmination of so many stresses coming to a head that i think makes this a really unique election that's coming to a head and the emotion i'm talking about that i'd like people to pay attention to.

Skinner says the pandemic, social unrest, police reform, and wildfires are just some of the things from this year alone that's mixing together-- making a tense election season.

Skinner does want to emphasize that they're not expecting any major violence breaking out election night.

But they are ready to protect the public's freedom to protest.

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