Community speaks out on Saturday night riots

Counter protesters arrived shortly after the protest began.

Controversy tonight.

We have a lot of important stories to get to.

And as always -- we have team coverage for you tonight.

We begin with kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy who joins us live from where a majority of the damage was done on east broadway.

To explain what happened leading up to that point -- kennedy?

Jillian, as you know we had two of our reporters at multiple scenes*all night.

And it all began after hundreds gathered at the federal courthouse around 8 o'clock.

The event was hosted by a group calling itself the pacific northwest youth liberation front.

The goal was to stand in solidarity with protesters in portland.

But things quickly escalated& and counter protesters arrived with firearms and signs reading*all lives matter."

This led to arguments between both groups and rising tension.

I spoke to one woman today who has attended*many protests and rallies in the area.

She says that while things*did get out of hand last night..there are a few things to keep in mind.

"you still need to realize that these police officers, they still have kids they have everything, yeah the police did way too much, like last night but in the end they still go home to their families.so its hard.i think we need to focus on what the movement is really about."

After the peaceful protest, most of the group dispersed but a small group continued into the night.

And that is when things turned destructive.

The group moved downtown where businesses were vandalized.

They were ordered to disperse but the chaos continued, as windows were broken.

People launched fireworks into buidlings and street signs were torn down.

Eugene police say officers were pelted by large rocks shortly after midnight, where some officers suffered minor injuries.

Coming up in the six o clock hour, hear why one man wants to*clear the air to share why he drew his gun last night in his truck.

Live in eugene kennedy dendy kezi 9 news.