SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane law enforcement used foam batons and pepper spray to control the crowd protesting against ICE in downtown Spokane on Wednesday evening.
Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said during a press conference that the increased police response was a reaction to criminal behavior from select protesters.
“What we saw was, as the mayor pointed out, an escalation in criminal behavior. Not by everybody in the crowd. Certainly. There were peaceful folks demonstrating and utilizing their First Amendment rights,” Hall said.
The Spokane Sheriff’s Office said the foam batons and pepper spray were used after protesters began throwing smoke canisters at deputies.
Both the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office clarified they did not deploy rubber bullets or tear gas during the protests.
Mayor Lisa Brown said only a few protesters sustained injuries and that the majority of demonstrators remained peaceful throughout the event.
Harris Kahler, 23, spent four hours in the emergency room after being hit by smoke canisters in his lower back, arm and head during the protests. Kahler said he attended the protest to support the cause.
“The problem could have been de-escalated in countless different ways before this happened, but they chose aggression. That’s as simple as that,” Kahler said.
Ari Dean with the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized the protest that began at the Red Wagon in Riverfront Park. Dean’s group had planned to merge with an existing demonstration on Washington Street. Dean said organizers communicated with participants about the developing situation as events unfolded.
“We had people walking through the crowd, making sure to tell everybody that they could advance information and spread it. As the situation is unfolding, that’s the best you can do. Once it gets to a situation like that where it’s pretty chaotic, people then make their own decisions based on the information that they have,” Dean said.
Dean said most of their group left the protest around 9 p.m. after hearing loud noises and seeing smoke in the air.
Mayor Brown said she authorized police involvement when Washington state law and public safety were violated. The decision to use force falls within Spokane police jurisdiction when crowds need to be dispersed for public safety reasons.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation plans to maintain a presence at upcoming events including Pride festivities and the No Kings protest this weekend. Their next formal demonstration is scheduled for Monday outside the federal courthouse on Riverside during Martin Diaz’s court hearing.
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