Civil Unrest Coverage & Leadership
Leadership and frontline reporting during months of civil unrest in Eugene, including live breaking coverage, safety protocol development and newsroom coordination.
Over several months, Tarek led and participated in The Daily Emerald’s coverage of protests and civil unrest in Eugene related to immigration enforcement and federal policy. As an editor, he coordinated reporting strategy while also working extensively in the field.
The newsroom produced breaking news stories, live updates and photojournalism documenting demonstrations across the city, including outside the Eugene Federal Building. In multiple instances, The Emerald provided the only continuous live coverage as events unfolded.
While reporting, Tarek documented police dispersal actions involving chemical munitions and less-lethal projectiles and continued reporting in rapidly changing situations. He also developed safety protocols for Emerald staff covering protests and other high-risk events to help ensure student journalists could report safely while documenting the news.
The Emerald’s safety protocols were later shared with student newsrooms across the country, and Tarek appeared on an Oregon Public Broadcasting roundtable discussing student journalists covering protests and high-risk demonstrations. As a newsroom leader, he also worked with the organization’s board to connect staff with mental health resources and support following prolonged coverage of high-stress events.
Live Updates
Follow-up Coverage
Multimedia Content
Three of Tarek’s live social media stand-up reports from the Eugene Federal Building amid chemical munitions and clashes between federal agents and protesters.
Tarek photographed events, reported live updates and stand-ups from the field, and led The Daily Emerald’s coverage of protests at the Eugene Federal Building.
A protester stands before a Eugene police officer in riot gear during a declared riot at the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. 
A haze of tear gas fills the air outside the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. 
A Eugene police officer stands in riot gear during a declared riot at the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. 
A Eugene police officer stands in riot gear during a declared riot at the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. 
A Department of Homeland Security agent stands outside the Eugene Federal Building with a chemical munitions launcher after firing on protesters on Jan. 31, 2026. 
A Department of Homeland Security agent stands outside the Eugene Federal Building with a chemical munitions launcher after firing on protesters on Jan. 31, 2026. 
A protester holding a frog sign — matching the frog costumes seen at protests in Portland, Oregon — smiles and waves at cars at the intersection of 7th Street and Pearl Avenue on Feb. 2, 2026. 
A Vietnam War veteran and a fellow protester stand together at the corner of 7th Street and Pearl Avenue on Feb. 3, 2026. 
A University of Oregon student stands outside the boarded windows of the Eugene Federal Building chanting anti-ICE slogans. 
A protester holds a tear gas canister fired by federal agents that landed in a parking lot across the street from the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. 
An ambulance arrives to transport a protester struck in the head by a pepper ball fired by federal agents outside the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026. The protester, who was bleeding heavily, was moved three blocks away by fellow protesters after EMS initially declined to treat on scene due to tear gas deployment. 
A Department of Homeland Security agent stands outside the Eugene Federal Building with a chemical munitions launcher after firing on protesters on Jan. 31, 2026. 
A haze of tear gas fills the air outside the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 31, 2026. 
A Eugene police officer stands in riot gear during a declared riot at the Eugene Federal Building on Jan. 30, 2026.
Protest Coverage Safety Protocol
Amid rapidly escalating protests outside the Eugene Federal Building, Tarek developed an emergency safety protocol for The Daily Emerald newsroom to guide student journalists covering demonstrations and other high-risk events.
The protocol was created in real time as reporting conditions evolved, including the deployment of chemical munitions and crowd-control weapons. It established guidance for situational awareness, protective equipment, communication and team coordination so reporters and photographers could continue documenting events safely.
After being implemented in the Emerald newsroom, the protocol was shared with student newsrooms across the country as a resource for covering protests and other volatile situations. The full protocol is included below.
Tarek appears on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s “Think Out Loud” to discuss leading student newsroom coverage of protests and civil unrest in Eugene and Portland.
Tarek Anthony Journalism Portfolio
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Tarek Anthony Journalism Portfolio 