*updated* Protestors Outside Old Nick’s Clash Over Drag Queen Story Hour

Old Nick’s is the latest victim in a right wing mobilization against drag queens and the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ events have received an increase in threats and attacks over the past few years. According to the Department of Justice, hate crimes based on trans identity increased by 41% between 2019 and 2020. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data collection and crisis mapping project states that, “Anti-LGBT+ mobilization — including demonstrations, political violence, and offline propaganda activity like flyering — increased by over four times from 2020 to 2021.” They indicate that 2022 is on track to be even more violent than last year.

Today, those threats came to Eugene in a clash outside of Old Nick’s Pub on Washington Street. Old Nick’s was hosting a Drag Queen Brunch Story Hour, a family-friendly event featuring Vanellope Macpherson Dupont. 

Vanellope is an 11-year-old performer who, according to a statement from her family, “Dreams of being on Broadway or in the movies, and loves to participate and put on plays with her friends.” 

Vanellope was doxed online, private information was shared about her, by a person with the profile name @honeybadgermom and because of this exposure was afraid to attend school the past week. She still chose to participate in the drag show story hour and hundreds of people showed up to support her. The story hour inside was a ticketed event that sold out days before, the show of support outside was a public event. 

Witnesses stated that at one point the detractors had attempted to enter the pub through a side door but were pushed back by supporters. These anti drag queen detractors were made aware of this even by Andy Ngo, a right wing journalist who considers himself an expert on Antifa and the “militant left”. Ngo tweeted about the event on Oct. 17, calling attention to Vanellope personally by posting pictures of her. The supporters of Old Nick’s were local community members who brought snacks and water for the allies and protected families as they entered the pub.

People began showing up around 9:45 a.m. Eugene police issued a statement saying that “Firearms were reported present in both groups.” There was a mobile police tower on site and one police officer was visible standing on the freeway overlooking Washington Jefferson Park. Throughout the morning and afternoon supporters held the line and slowly pushed the protestors back.

In Old Nick’s parking lot, people gave short speeches supporting Vanellope and all the drag performers. Jacob, with Eugene Democratic Socialists of America, stated, “Community coming together is what it’s all about.” 

A person named Aloha said, “Everyday in my life when I hear the news of what’s going on in the world, I always know that the vast majority of the world stands with all of us here today. Today we have visible proof of that. I know in my soul and my heart that the people across the street are just scared and fearful people. Love is revolutionary, so join the revolution!”

For a while it was a standoff with people in black bloc holding umbrellas to block the protestors’ cameras, some had medic symbols on their helmets, and some were holding rifles. The adversaries held large American flags and signs calling antifa “pedophiles” and “groomers.” Chants of “Go home, nazis” and “This is what community looks like” drowned out the protestors. One protestor was heard responding to accusations of being a nazi by saying “Thank you for the compliment” after he was seen raising his arm in a nazi salute.

Some of the protestors were identified as Proud Boys and members of Rose City Nationalists were present. David Loveall, Springfield’s new County Commissioner-elect was seen at the event. Loveall reached out to The Torch to deny that he was participating with the protestors.

Supporters began moving toward the protestors and pushing them away from Old Nick’s around 12:45. As the protestors were pushed back across First Avenue they began picking up rocks and throwing water bottles and smoke bombs. A loud pop was audible throughout the crowd and green smoke filled the street. The protestors were being herded down Washington Street and they began to throw rocks at the Old Nick’s supporters. Rocks flew in all directions. 

As rocks were being thrown, a minivan drove by with a giant syringe on the roof that said “genocide.” Members of the Old Nick’s supporters side threw traffic cones and rocks at that car as well. 

A person in black bloc managed to grab an American flag mask off of one of the protestors and, after a short scuffle, set the mask on fire. While the rock fight was happening on First Avenue police had started to gather around a person who was laying on the ground. About 12 police officers in riot gear were gathered around the injured person as volunteer medics tended to him. A large group of Old Nick’s supporters blocked the view of the police and the person on the ground by holding up different pride flags. 

This attack on pride and drag shows is not new to the Pacific Northwest, or the United States as a whole. Idaho republicans are introducing a bill in January created by right wing think tank The Idaho Family Policy Center that will effectively ban drag performances in public. The Idaho Capitol Sun reported that the president of IFPC, Blaine Conzatti, “Declined to share the text of the bill and wouldn’t name the legislators who worked on it with him.”

Old Nick’s requested support in the form of donations for the performers and for their pay it forward meal program.