Gonzales comes to Spokane today, will discuss gangs

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will stop in Spokane today to discuss gang enforcement with a task force of federal, state and local law officials.

Gonzales, who is facing criticism in Congress for the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, is making a swing through the Northwest, with stops in Salt Lake City, Seattle and Boise.

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that Gonzales will hold a closed meeting with members of the gang task force at the West Central Community Center at 1:30 p.m., then meet with journalists about 2 p.m.

In Boise on Tuesday, Gonzales canceled a news conference on the lawn of the Fort Boise Community center after more than 100 anti-war protesters gathered, singing and waving placards that read “Torture is not American,” a reference to a 2002 memo written by Gonzales that said Bush had the right to waive anti-torture laws and treaties that protect prisoners of war.

The news conference was moved to a secure U.S. attorney’s office about a mile away.