Park arrests protested

Responding to citizens’ concerns, Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession has asked for a thorough review of a July 4 incident in which 17 protesters were arrested at Riverfront Park.

Monday’s request for a report from police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick came on the same day more than 100 people rallied near police headquarters, then moved to City Hall, protesting police brutality and the department’s response to the Independence Day demonstration.

“Both the chief and I have asked the city attorney to aggregate all the information, both from police reports as well as from other witnesses, to assist us in evaluating concerns raised by other citizens,” Hession said, adding that while he has “a lot of respect” for Spokane’s police force, he wants citizen complaints evaluated.

Unlike July 4, Monday evening’s demonstration went peacefully and without police interference. Teenagers, young and middle-aged adults gathered at Monroe Street and Mallon Avenue, waving signs such as “Police the Police” and “Bad Cop, No Donut.” Many motorists honked as they drove by.

Several officers stood by behind a building across the street, but their only interaction with the demonstrators at Mallon Avenue was passing out sheets of paper that outlined municipal laws associated with protesting.

At an impromptu news conference less than a block away, Kirkpatrick said she wanted the protesters to know they were free to rally, but not to commit a crime.

“That is our constitutional right, and so they should be given the opportunity, and they are given the opportunity, to speak their mind,” she said, adding that it is the “burden” of a citizen to learn the laws of demonstrating.

Kirkpatrick said the 17 protesters were arrested July 4 for trespassing – and one for assaulting a police officer – because Clear Channel Communications, which was leasing Riverfront Park as a show venue, complained that the demonstrators had “taken over our venue site” and were delaying a concert. The company, which owns radio stations, raised the issue with park security and police.

The order to disperse the protesters was given by a sergeant in charge of the task force, and cleared through his lieutenant, Kirkpatrick said. She also read from a report that quoted a park security officer saying one of the protesters assaulted one of the officers and “the group would not move.”

“That is a trespass,” Kirkpatrick said. “They were told to move.”

It was unclear Monday whether the protesters knew or were told the area was rented.

Kirkpatrick said she believes the arrests were justified because there was “a clear determination that crimes have occurred.”

She also rebutted the claims of police brutality by some protesters.

“Not one use of a Taser. Not one use of pepper spray,” she said. “Brutality – that is their opinion.”

One protester who said he was among those arrested in Riverfront Park said he had been struck with a baton and shoved to the ground. On Monday, he held a sign that read “I got my ass kicked by the SPD.”

Staff writer Jonathan Brunt contributed to this report.