Alarm after FBI arrests US army veteran for ‘conspiracy’ over protest against Ice

Column: When State Terror Comes to Town

The SCAR Blog

Building community with accountability and equity.

Spokesman

Jim Leighty and Pui-Yan Lam: Freedom of speech is the American dream

We are disappointed at Judge Rebecca Pennell’s April 14 denial of the motion to dismiss the charges against Justice Forral, Bajun Mavalwalla II and Jac Archer, three out of the nine June 11 protesters hit with federal conspiracy charges.

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Spokane’s BIPOC Actors Demand Sanctuary: Civic Theatre Open Forum

In March 2026, the Spokane Civic Theatre faced public backlash after releasing the cast announcement for their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The backlash came from the decision…

10 years later … When you look like me, you’re only ‘good enough’ until they say you’re not

We can no longer wait for our white counterparts to do what they should have done long ago. No! We must decide for ourselves when we are “good enough.”

Alarm after FBI arrests US army veteran for ‘conspiracy’ over protest against Ice

Legal experts say charges against Afghanistan war veteran Bajun Mavalwalla II mark an escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on first amendment rights

The State of Surveillance in Spokane

As officials prepare more Flock cameras to roll out across Spokane County, here’s what you need to know.

Column: When State Terror Comes to Town

‘We blew past “constitutional crisis” months ago, leaving “experts” squabbling about it in the rearview mirror.’

Spokane could finally ban warrantless ICE arrests at ticketed street festivals

Welcome to CIVICS, where we break down the week’s municipal meetings throughout the Inland Northwest, so you can get involved and speak out about the issues you care about.

Icing out ICE: Spokane outlaws warrantless immigration enforcement at events on public property

Spokane’s City Council passed the “Safe and Welcome in Spokane” ordinance, requiring federal immigration officers to obtain a warrant before entering permitted events on public property when organizers have requested…

SCAR Issues: Housing, Evictions, and Housing Justice P2 – Talk with City Council Member Paul Dillon

In this installment of SCAR Issues, Justice Forral sits down with Spokane City Council Member Paul Dillon to discuss critical housing issues, including the city's recently implemented landlord registry.

SCAR Issues: Housing, Evictions Housing Justice part 1

In part 1 we interview Terri Anderson, the director of the Tenant's Union of Washington State. Terri talks to us about rent stabilization needing to be passed.

What happened to expanding the Office of Police Ombudsman’s limited investigative abilities?

On June 29, 2023, Spokane City Council passed an agreement limiting the Office of Police Ombudsman's independence, requiring chief-approved investigations. This move contradicts the voters' demand for thorough, independent oversight…

Follow up on my testimony on Monday’s (11/13) City Council Meeting

I would like to share with you my thoughts on my experience giving my public comments at the City Council meeting on Nov. 13. This might help you think of…

Point of Disorder

On Monday night, an activist read a transcript of a city council meeting at a city council meeting. The entire city council walked out.

Faith leaders call on Woodward to formally support separation of church and state

The letter comes after the mayor appeared at a Christian nationalist event in Spokane.

Racist statue removal stalled: ‘Who is this wait worth it for?’

The Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander community has asked for the removal of a monument they call ‘racist and misleading.’ A mayoral veto and an empty city council seat stand in the…

Why not try real solutions?

Spokane could just decide to love its community more. Everyone wants less crime, but leaning on police to do all the work just creates more prisoners. We need to actually…

As Larry Stone stonewalls, Spokane City Council grudgingly invests in shelter he owns

Members of the Spokane City Council say it has become increasingly clear that developer Larry Stone, of the Stone Group of Companies, has no intention of selling the Trent Avenue…

Haskell Backs Off — The role of systemic racism (Part 2)

This is a reposting, originally published via Substack by Jerry Leclaire on May 24th, 2023. On Monday, May 22nd, Kip Hill’s article in the Spokesman reported “Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office…

Prosecutorial Discretion and Racial Prejudice (Part 1)

This is a reposting, originally published via Substack by Jerry Leclaire on May 22nd, 2023. In criminal legal cases (as opposed to civil cases) it is the County Prosecutor’s decision…