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A simple message Members of a group called Rogue Valley Resistance display a sign Tuesday at the Interstate 5 Exit 30 overpass in Medford. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Tuesday Feb 21, 2017 at 11:07 AM Feb 21, 2017 at 5:32 PM Greg Stiles Mail Tribune @GregMTBusiness A new group calling itself Rogue Valley Resistance deployed banners on five Interstate 5 overpasses this morning, each with a simple message: "Resist Racism." "Resist Deportations." "Resist Islamophobia." "Resist Pipelines." "Resist Fascism." Though few passing drivers honked their horns, the two dozen or so protesters remained on point, in a considerably more peaceful effort than have been seen during protests in Portland and Berkeley, California. "We're in a rural area, and it is definitely easy to ignore our most marginalized populations, because they are very small here in Southern Oregon, being a very white area," said Evan Gaudry, a 17-year-old Ashland High School student and a leader of Rogue Valley Resistance. "As a white ally, it's my duty to be out here today with this message." Banners, placed at exits 19, 24, 27, 30 and 33, faced northbound traffic for an hour and southbound for a second hour. Josephine County resident Lia Cochran, who conducts owl surveys for Weyerhaeuser, said she was disheartened by the amount of division in her community, especially when it comes to race and religion. "I strongly believe that kind of sentiment doesn't have a place in Southern Oregon or anywhere," she said, clutching the support straps attached to a "Resist Islamophobia" banner. "The first person I ever fell in love with was a Sudanese refugee, who practiced Islam. But also just generally I think humans are fundamentally worthy of respect, and I have some issues with the growing climate." She said the spike in hate crimes, Nazi graffiti and swastikas is troublesome. "I think it's important for people who don't believe that's the appropriate way to treat other humans to make their voices heard and do the right thing," Cochran said. Adam Sleeper of Phoenix, a barista who aspires to go into the solar industry, said it was important to stand up against hate crimes and bigotry and include newcomers to the community. He said simple messages, rather than mass protests, could be effective for the group to get its point across. "I've seen the way even some of my friends have had racial slurs yelled at them, and people think that's OK, now that we have a new president?" Sleeper said. "It was happening before. Unfortunately, not as many people were aware of its presence. Racism in America has been swept under the rug more than once, and it's easy for people to stay inactive because it's not always prevalent. When you start hearing those stories, it becomes clear that action is necessary." St. Mary's High School senior Jayden Marie admitted she expected more response from morning commuters, but found they were intent on getting to work or school. "Actually, I was surprised," Marie said. "I thought we would be interacting with more people, but they were rushing to work or on their phones." Aside from a few thumbs-up, she said, things were generally quiet. "One person yelled 'Go Trump,' " Marie said. The Exit 24 overpass provided a unique challenge because pedestrians there are funneled to the middle of the bridge. But Marie said her group simply moved their "Resist Deportation" banner to the flanks of the overpass. Tuesday protests continue Several hours after the Rogue Valley Resistance protest, Indivisible protesters took to Medford streets in their fifth week of demonstrating against President Trump's policies. This week, they delivered letters to U.S. Rep. Greg Walden's office demanding he hold a town hall in Medford within 30 days. Protesters inside the office briefly chanted "Where's Walden?" and accused the congressman of being afraid of meeting with them.  Walden aide Troy Ferguson said he would deliver the letters and noted Walden had met with Indivisible organizers by teleconference earlier this month. But Ferguson wouldn't promise a date for a town hall. When protesters said Walden chooses only small towns for his gatherings, Ferguson said, "He represents everyone. You might not like that, but he has 20 counties he represents." Ferguson said Walden will hold a town hall "sooner rather than later." — Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31.