Shortly after 2PM on Thursday, May 28, a predominantly white jury found Justice Forral, Bajun Mavalwalla, and Jac Archer guilty of conspiring to use force, intimidation, or threat to impede or injure officers of the United States in the lawful performance of their duties. The charges stemmed from their participation in a protest outside the local ICE facility in the summer of 2025. Despite the shocking verdict, Forral, Mavalwalla, and Archer maintain their innocence and their intent to appeal. At the time of the June 11 protest, two of the Spokane 3 were SCAR staff members, and remain beloved movement colleagues.

This verdict is a painful reminder of the personal and tangible costs of opposing systemic racism. As an organization and as community members, we are heartbroken. The trial of the Spokane 3 was more than seven days of courtroom drama. For many it was the climax of nearly a year of sustained stress, kicked off by state violence, punctuated by trauma, and culminating in felony convictions with the potential to negatively impact beloved friends and community members—and their families—for the rest of their lives. Before the headlines, legal impacts, political spin, or movement analysis, the human cost of this verdict, for all of us, must be acknowledged and felt.

Even as we grieve this appalling miscarriage of justice, we remain defiantly hopeful that the community will prevail. SCAR maintains unwavering solidarity with the Spokane 3 and the targeted immigrant community on whose behalf they advocated. As a community, let us commit our steadfast support of Justice Forral, Bajun Mavalwalla, and Jac Archer as they navigate their next steps with the help of their council. Jac Archer has remained on the SCAR Staff team throughout the trial, and will continue with SCAR as Policy Director. Let us commit uncowed hands and voices to the rights and wellbeing of all our neighbors, regardless of their immigration status or national origin. And let us commit our hearts to this community and to each other.

In community,

Steering Committee
Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR)