Blair Hickok shares her story about our local police

Presenter: Local activists spoke at a press conference Friday about next steps after a former Eugene Police officer’s bodycam captured his racist and misogynistic phone call. Blair Hickok says we need to listen better to our Black, Latinx, trans, and homeless communities. On May 15, Blair Hickok:

Blair Hickok: I want to make something very clear. This isn’t a Eugene-specific issue, okay? This is a system that has existed almost since the beginning of our country and it hasn’t changed, okay? Slavery was never abolished, it was just
rebranded. And the police exist because of that.

So a lot of things were said on this bodycam footage, this is baseline behavior. These are conversations that happen so frequently and that are so common that he was just casually taking part in this horrific conversation.

So, after speaking with several members of the community, there are some things that have come up that have really been frustrating to hear, but at the same time, it’s not surprising. Folks have heard stuff like this, and worse, said to their face. And it really… It is interesting to me that folks are shocked by hearing a police officer say this. That they’re shocked by hearing a police officer in Eugene saying this.

Because we’re a liberal city, correct? We’re progressive. We’re blue. Unfortunately, this system here is just like the rest of the country. And it’s broken. Sorry. It is not broken. It’s working exactly the way it’s designed to. And this is just one small snippet of a glimpse into that dark, disgusting culture.

But this is the chance we have as a community to come together and have a conversation. Let’s change the narrative. How fair is it that Skinner gets to take hold of that narrative? If they’re protecting and serving us, why don’t we get to be part of that conversation? Why don’t we get to be part of the decision-making process? So that’s why we’re here today.

There’s been regulated areas where people have been able to talk: City Council, the (Police Commission) meeting last night. But a forum where people are in their community, surrounded by each other, and not forced to talk surrounded by rules, is going to be an easier way to get these really difficult things said.

So again, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of you for being here, because these difficult conversations need to happen, right? We can’t let this stuff be normalized anymore. That’s gross. It’s gross. So let’s stand up. Let’s make some demands. Let’s make some that make sense for us. Because we’re the ones that they’re supposed to protect and serve. We are.

But we all know, deep down, those of us that have been listening and paying attention, that this system just isn’t the one for us. So let’s start a movement. Let’s start a conversation. Let’s make some demands. Let’s make some change. Let’s listen to each other.

I want us all to look around and notice that we are all so close to being on the same page with this and we all want
something different. So let’s start making that happen. I invite you all to say something today. And if you don’t want to, that’s okay too. So that being said, I’ve got folks here who have lived experience with the Eugene Police Department.

And I want to say that Chief Skinner saying that (former EPD Officer Martin) Siller’s a bad apple, that’s a joke. And someone said the other night, ‘What about the second part of that sentence: Spoils the whole bunch.’

Siller worked for the department for seven years. And during that seven years, his wages increased by 68%. How many of you had your income increase by that much? Not going to happen, right? That’s not something that’s attainable for us. Why does he get that?

So truthfully, I think the bad apple is Skinner. I think the bad apple is the system.

Presenter: Blair looked at EPD’s response through the lens of her business administration degree from the
University of Oregon.

Blair Hickok: So my degree is in marketing, right? So, especially with Skinner’s speech, his press conference, their marketing team is, they must all have doctorates because that was just like the perfect recipe, right? You say all the right things, you do nothing afterwards because you placated the people the right way, right?

They did damage control / crisis management, and it was textbook stuff, if you have a marketing degree like me, which is—nothing made me a stronger anti-capitalist than being in the business college. But I digress.

So I want to say a couple things because I am so honored and privileged to be educated and advised by different members of the Black community both locally and nationally and there’s been a list compiled of ways that us white folks can kind of make a difference or at least become involved in direct action.

So first here locally, the Black Cultural Initiative is an amazing resource and they deserve our support unconditionally. They provide food boxes, health care services. They are a way for people in the community to, you know, get to know each other. They do all kinds of fun events and I’ve been invited there a few times for the everyone stuff, and I just have a blast, so everybody there is super cool.

Anyways, the second thing. This is kind of controversial, but I really want to make this point, okay? If you see police messing with a marginalized person, if you are physically able and you are in the space, please intervene. Please do something.

Filming them? I don’t know if that’s going to be so helpful. we’ve seen that doesn’t necessarily work. So if you’re in the capacity, please put your body between these people. We have to step in literally sometimes, so it’s another way to get involved in direct action.

Third, mutual aid. Do you all know what mutual aid is? I’m like such a huge fan. Mutual aid saves lives, okay? Give money to a Black person today. Seriously, just do it. Why? Because reparations. Why not?

I want to also say something the Black community has been telling us for a very long time, that this is how the system works, okay? We don’t need to prop them up and ask them for more emotional labor. We know this.

And so everything that I said earlier in my introduction, I was parroting the words of the Black community because we should be listening. Our Black community feels like they’re not part of the conversation. They feel like they aren’t being heard and when stuff like this is released, it’s kind of apparent that that’s so true.

So, Jetty had mentioned earlier that there are folks who are taking more of a backseat, more of a less visible role because of safety reasons. And this is because we haven’t been listening. We know EPD is like this. We know, I know my safety is at risk. My reputation is at risk for standing here.

I’m not going to stand by and watch as more members of our community are terrorized, as the system continues to be normalized the way it is. Gross. Come on. So I want to make it very clear when you do include the Black community in these conversations, we need to include marginalized folks and center them. That’s why I mentioned earlier the elephant in the room, me being a white woman, because it’s not up to Black people to save us anymore. It’s not up to immigrants to save us anymore. We, as white people, need to stand up and start making a difference because we kind of have the power to do so. So that’s why I’m standing here today.

So anyways, I just want to make that clear. I want to lay some facts out there real quick. Those of us who have experienced police violence know that they value property over people. For example, somebody with a property crime that I know served 10 years. Somebody that he was settled up with served, too, for violently attacking his partner sexually to the point where she had to have major surgery that didn’t repair what was done. So yeah, two years versus 10, that’s just weird. Like I said, the system’s working like it’s supposed to, right?

Presenter: At their press conference Friday in the Whiteaker’s Scobert Park, local activists took questions from the media. She was asked to describe what it was like listening to those words on that video. Blair Hickok:

Blair Hickok: So the stuff that resonates with me specifically, 10 years ago, you probably saw me in this park, except I was living in it. I was actively using substances and facing death. So the thing about being a femme presenter—

You know what? Actually, the thing about being on the streets is: Sexual assault happens a lot to everybody. Okay? So, it happened to me quite a bit. I tried to report it twice. Okay?

First time: ‘Have you tried not living outside?’

‘Oh, you know, I didn’t even know that was an option. Gee.’

So I’m in a state of despair. My safety had been violated. And this guy is laughing at me?

Okay, cool. Try it again. Next time I saw that police officer, he kicked me in the head. So I stopped trying to report it. It didn’t stop happening, but I stopped trying to report it.

So the thing that resonated with me was the casual mention of things like sexual assault, violence against women. Like, I said it wasn’t shocking. It still horrified me.

So when I mentioned that folks that I consulted with and been advised by had heard things like this said to their face— worse things said to their face—again, I wasn’t shocked. And that’s something that we all have in solidarity is, those of us who have been aware of this, know that. So we have the opportunity to continue this conversation and start making
change.

My purpose in life: Two things. I choose to research ways to prevent and reduce homelessness for vulnerable populations. My second passion for grad school is going to be focused on anti-recidivism. I’m an abolitionist. I know that abolition will not happen in my lifetime, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do anything about it. I want to get the ball rolling too.

So, next steps. My name is Blair Hickok. It’s such a privilege to speak in front of all of you today. First name, B-L-A-I-R. Hickok, it’s H-I-C-K-O-K. I’m also on the socials, Miss Blizzle, B-L-I-Z-Z-L-E. I would love to help organize next steps. Please, get ahold of me.

Let me be public so you don’t have to. I know so many people are out there scared. to stand up and I am more than happy to be the megaphone for you.

Presenter: That is Blair Hickok at Friday’s press conference telling how she was treated by the Eugene Police after being sexually assaulted and about being kicked in the head by a Eugene Police officer. KEPW is sharing stories about the Eugene Police Department. You can share yours by emailing news@KEPW.org.