Chaos gripped Spokane, Washington, as protests against ICE detentions spiraled into a citywide curfew and a declared state of emergency. The unrest, ignited by a former councilman’s call to action, turned downtown into a battleground of tear gas and arrests. Turns out, even noble causes can’t excuse breaking the law.
Protests erupted after former City Councilman Ben Stuckart rallied supporters to oppose the detention of a Venezuelan asylum seeker, leading to a state of emergency and curfew in Spokane, reported Fox News. The situation escalated when demonstrators ignored the curfew, prompting police to intervene with force. Spokane’s streets, usually calm, became a stage for ideological clashes.
Ben Stuckart, recently the legal guardian of a 21-year-old Venezuelan man, sparked the protests with a fiery call to action. The young man, who had filed all required asylum paperwork and awaited a court hearing, was detained by ICE during a routine check-in. Stuckart’s plea for supporters to gather at 411 West Cataldo by 2 p.m. set the stage for the unrest.
“I am going to sit in front of the bus,” Stuckart declared, urging the Latino community and others to join him immediately. Noble intentions aside, his sit-in plan quickly morphed into a gathering deemed unlawful by authorities. Passion for justice doesn’t grant a free pass to disrupt public order.
Spokane Police and the county sheriff’s office descended on the scene, facing a defiant crowd. The protesters, refusing to disperse, clashed with law enforcement’s efforts to restore calm. Several were arrested, charged with “failure to disperse,” as the situation grew untenable.
Police resorted to tear gas to break up the crowd, a move captured by KAYU-TV showing officers in gas masks amid scattering protesters. The use of force, while jarring, underscores the consequences of ignoring lawful orders. Romanticizing civil disobedience doesn’t erase its real-world fallout.
Mayor Lisa Brown, navigating a political tightrope, issued a curfew from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., covering key downtown areas including Riverfront Park. “The City of Spokane respects everyone’s First Amendment rights,” she said, but stressed the need to address municipal code violations. Her words aim for unity, yet enforcement tells a sterner story.
Brown also affirmed Spokane’s commitment to the Keep Washington Working Act, which limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. “My heart goes out to families being separated,” she added, revealing the emotional weight of the crisis. Empathy, however, doesn’t negate the need for order.
Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns took a harder line, condemning the “unrest” and praising law enforcement’s bravery. “The unrest we have seen in the City of Spokane is unacceptable,” he stated, standing firmly with police. His stance cuts through the progressive haze, prioritizing safety over sentiment.
“I strongly support every American’s First Amendment right to speak freely,” Kerns said, but drew a line at violence and obstruction. His call for lawful protest resonates with those who value both freedom and accountability. Rights come with responsibilities, a truth often glossed over by activists.
Kerns also thanked police and their families, emphasizing community support for those maintaining order. “We support you and have your back,” he declared, a rallying cry for law and order. In a city teetering on chaos, such words carry weight.
The protests centered on the Venezuelan man’s detention, a case that highlights the complexities of immigration policy. His paperwork was in order, his court date set, yet ICE’s decision to transfer him to Tacoma fueled outrage. The system’s rigidity often clashes with human stories, creating flashpoints like this.
Stuckart’s call to action framed the detention as an injustice, urging immediate community support. “The Latino community needs the rest of our community now,” he pleaded, casting the issue as a moral imperative. While his passion is undeniable, escalating tensions to riots risk alienating the very community he seeks to unite.
Spokane’s state of emergency reflects a city pushed to its limits by competing visions of justice. The curfew and arrests signal that authorities prioritize stability over unchecked activism.
As Spokane grapples with the aftermath, the balance between protest and order remains precarious. Mayor Brown’s call for peace and unity faces the test of a divided city. For now, the tear gas has cleared, but the underlying tensions linger, unresolved.
