More than 30 arrested in downtown Spokane as ICE protesters clash with police
SPOKANE, Wash. — Community members gathered at the Spokane ICE office to protest the detainment of a 21-year-old Venezuelan man seeking asylum on Wednesday afternoon.
Former Spokane City Councilman Ben Stuckart wrote a call to action on Facebook, asking for support in protesting the detainment of the man, whom Stuckart became the legal guardian of 3 weeks ago.
Stuckart said on Facebook that the 21-year-old has filed paperwork to seek asylum and was headed to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office for a check-in when the man and his friend, who is also from Venezuela, were detained.
A group of people blocked the truck supposedly meant to take the men to the ICE processing facility in Tacoma, and cars parked behind and in front of the truck.
"It's immoral, what's happening right now in our society," said a protester. "I just thought I'd sit in front of the bus and make sure that I can do everything I possibly can to not let my friend leave."
Around 7 p.m., the crowd grew as people headed to a planned protest in downtown Spokane, redirected to join the group outside the ICE office.
Around 7:45 p.m., the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene of the protest and are called the gathering unlawful. SPD announced that protesters would be arrested if they did not disperse and that force may be used, including tear gas. SPD also told KREM 2 around 9 p.m. that the ICE office was empty.
Stuckart was arrested, along with several protesters. Stuckart was booked into the Spokane County Jail at 8:37 p.m. on a "failure to disperse" charge. He is being held on $500 bail.
As of Thursday morning, the Spokane County inmate roster shows Stuckart has since been released.
Around 8 p.m., SPD deployed "pepper balls" into the crowd, which explode into smoke and contain an irritant like pepper spray. Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said over 30 protesters have been arrested.
Mayor Lisa Brown declared a state of emergency and issued a curfew to begin at 9:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. The curfew (affected areas) from Boone Avenue to Spokane Falls Boulevard and from Howard Street to Division Street, as well as in Riverfront Park.
The city says everyone must abide by this curfew, with exceptions including law enforcement, emergency personnel, media, people leaving the soccer game at the Podium, residents living in the area, and people going to and from work.
The city attorney said at a press conference on Wednesday night that a violation of the curfew is a misdemeanor.
"I think, as we demonstrated this evening, that the city is capable of conducting interactions with peaceful protests, utilizing our methods to try to de-escalate them and to keep the public safe," said Mayor Lisa Brown at a press conference on Wednesday night. "And it was fairly clear to me that if there was no Spokane police presence, that that could be used as a justification for Federal National Guard or other federal agents to come in and take control of the situation."
"We respect their right to peacefully protest and to be upset about federal policies. I have been that person who has protested federal policies, and that is a right we have. I feel strongly about it. It's the way that some changes have happened in our country, if you look at the civil rights movement, and so totally respect non-violent, peaceful protest of the public," said Mayor Brown. "And I also have a responsibility as the mayor to ensure that our rules, laws that we have in place in order to give people, their sense of safety in our community."
This is still a developing story. For the latest updates, check KREM 2 News.