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Thank-you dinner this Sunday for armed resistance

by CRAIG NORTHRUP
Staff Writer | June 24, 2020 1:00 AM

A private thank-you dinner is being held Sunday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds for those who participated during the Coeur d’Alene’s armed resistance from early June, as well as for the businesses they claim to protect.

“The dinner is just (for) people of this community who went downtown to protect businesses that weren’t theirs, and to protect the protesters from it being infiltrated by outsiders here to do harm,” said Brett Surplus, one of the principal organizers of the armed resistance. “...We appreciate all the outpouring (of) support we’ve received from the community and local business owners. We are truly blessed to live in a community with such caring and loving people.”

After social media posts claiming that rioters were coming to Coeur d’Alene in the wake of nationwide protests over the George Floyd killing, approximately 300 well-armed men and women lined Sherman Avenue and the Downtown District June 1, with many staying over the course of four days. Surplus said he’s been greeted with overwhelming support since.

“It makes me feel great inside, you know?” Surplus said. “It’s so nice when I meet with these business owners. They’ve given us so many “Thank yous” and “You made us feel safe.”

While Sunday’s event is not open to the public, Surplus said business owners and staff the group protected that week were welcome to join in the festivities, adding that all but a few businesses his group protected that week voiced their thanks.

“I went from 2nd Street down to 7th,” Surplus recalled. “I talked to the business owners. One hundred percent (told me) they felt proud, that they liked what we were doing. We had a huge outpouring of support. Honestly, I probably did more photo ops than anything else that night.”

Many businesses have continued to show their support for the armed resistance. When Surplus first announced the dinner on Facebook, he said he was hoping for nine $100 pledges from local businesses to help defray the costs of the event. As of press time, 17 businesses from North Idaho have pledged their support, as well as a flurry of private citizens who said they wished to donate.

In the wake of the protests and response, Surplus announced June 16 he was making a bid as a write-in candidate for the District 3 Senate seat. The Rathdrum Republican said he was asked to run after the events of early June unfolded.

“I acted as a liaison because I have a law enforcement background,” the former Shoshone County Sheriff’s deputy and former Kellogg police officer said. “So my role was to educate (the armed resistance) on Idaho laws, on what their ability is and what they can’t do. No one is a cop and any action you take, you face the reality of being judged by 12.”

Surplus said he’s pushing a platform central to Idaho’s foundation, adding that he wanted to spread the word that the area is one of the safer places to live.

“To secure our Idaho,” he said, “make sure that prison facilities are kept in cities already established with them, and prepare for the influx of resident growth.”

When asked about his chances, he didn’t hold back.

“Oh, I’d say I make a living at doing what they say I couldn’t do,” he said. “They said I couldn’t make a TV show. I did. They said I couldn’t produce one. I learned how to edit in two-and-a-half months.”

Surplus added that Bob Norris — the Republican nominee for Kootenai County Sheriff this year — and Richard Whitehead will be speaking at the event. The Sunday dinner festivities begin at 4:30 p.m.