Spokane Imposes Curfew Due to Protests Against Courthouse Arrests of Immigrants

Spokane, Washington Mayor Lisa Brown issued a 21:30 curfew for about 1000 protesters on Riverfront Park and nearby downtown streets after contention between the protesters and law enforcement.

Three weeks earlier former City Council President Ben Stuckart became the legal guardian of 21 year old Venezuelan asylum seeker Cesar Alexander Alvarez Perez, who walked through nine countries on his way from Venezuela and met Colombian refugee Joswar Slater Rodriguez Torres, also in his early twenties, along the way.

In the morning Stuckart arrived with Alvarez Perez and Rodriguez Torres for a scheduled “check-in” appointment at the Spokane facility. Federal agents detained them.

The young men had work visas and worked full time at the Walmart in Airway Heights until Friday when their work permits were revoked.

Stuckart said, “You can’t help spend time with them and not understand just what great young men they are. They’ve done everything right, and they’re escaping horrible situations, and then to have them come in for a checkup and be detained illegally is morally reprehensible.” He was not allowed to accompany Alvarez Perez to his appointment and ICE would not give a reason for the detention.

Around 13:00, Stuckart posted in social media, “if you care at all about these illegal detainers you meet me at 411 West Cataldo by 2 p.m. I am going to set in front of the bus. Feel free to join me …. The Latino community needs the rest of our community. Not tonight, not Saturday but right now!!!!”

After Stuckart’s social media post, more than a dozen protesters joined him. A pair of federal agents in uniform came out to warn that obstructing their path could get them arrested and charged.

In response, protesters parked their vehicles at the front and back of the federal bus.

Stuckart said, “I don’t want this bus to leave with my friends. And I told everybody I was down here, and if people wanted to join me, they could. It’s not right. It’s not morally right, what’s happening.”

Several prominent politicians, activists and community leaders joined the growing crowd. These included

• Spokane County Democratic Party Chair Naida Spencer
• state Rep. Timm Orsmby
• Spokane City Council candidate Sarah Dixit
• union advocate and former Democratic candidate for local, state and federal offices Ted Cummings
• Thrive International Director Mark Finney
• Latinos en Spokane Director Jennyfer Mesa

A separate planned protest at Riverfront Park ramped up hours after  Stuckart’s impromptu protest. Eventually the two events merged.

Around 17:25, protesters blocked federal immigration agents from leaving in three unmarked vehicles. A handful of agents wearing ski masks and sunglasses tried to push the line of protesters, then retreated into their parking lot and shut the gate. Protesters barricaded the gate with scooters and park benches.

Shortly before 18:30, about 185 police officers responded to the protests. At 19:13 police told the crowd to leave within five minutes. At 19:22 police warned they would use force if the crowd did not disperse. Around 19:30 they arrested Stuckart and at least a dozen others. They used smoke grenades and pepper balls against the crowd.

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