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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Brexit architect Nigel Farage to address Spokane crowd amid planned protests

Former UK Independence Party leader and member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage, seen here at the Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France earlier this month, will speak in Spokane at the invitation of the Washington Policy Center on Wednesday. (Jean Francois Badias / AP)

Nigel Farage, the polarizing British politician credited with spearheading the country’s exit from the European Union, will give a speech Wednesday in downtown Spokane amid planned protests.

Farage will deliver the keynote address at the annual dinner of the Washington Policy Center, which bills itself as an “independent, nonprofit think tank” promoting free market ideals. Critics say the group’s politics are right-leaning, and past fundraisers have routinely featured conservative lawmakers and thinkers, including Nikki Haley and Gen. James Mattis, who both occupy roles in President Donald Trump’s cabinet.

In a news release announcing the dinner this week, Daniel Mead Smith, president of the center, said Farage and fellow speaker Rebecca Friedrichs would continue a tradition of bringing “strong, independent leaders” to the event.

“They always challenge our thinking and encourage us to do better. We’re excited that these two individuals, who have fought for freedom in different ways, will join us this year.”

Friedrichs was the lead plaintiff in a labor rights lawsuit out of California challenging whether public school teachers must pay to support union activity. Justice Antonin Scalia died before a decision could be rendered in that case, and the high court hit a stalemate on the question.

Chris Cargill, director of the center’s Eastern Washington office, said the group anticipated protesters ahead of Farage’s speech. In the push towards Brexit, Farage’s calls for more stringent immigration policies in Britian led to charges of racism and sexism by critics.

“This is what happens when you bring top national, and international, leaders who have taken tough stances on tough issues,” Cargill said.

Joan Braune, one of several organizers preparing a protest of Farage’s visit, said she was concerned about the British politician’s engagement with what she called “alt-right” organizations. She cited Farage’s appearance on Alex Jones’ InfoWars program and his support of the German nationalist political party Alternative for Germany.

“We can kind of call him the British Steve Bannon,” Braune said, referring to the former Trump strategist accused of pushing a nationalist tone inside the White House.

Protesters organized a letter and phone call campaign targeting sponsors of the event, said Jim Dawson, a program director for the political activist group Fuse Washington, which pushes progressive policies.

“We don’t need that kind of hate in Spokane,” Dawson said.

The Washington Policy Center took down its online page listing sponsors of the event at some point in the last several weeks. Cargill said that was done not because any sponsors backed out, but because there was some confusion over which sponsors were supporting the event in Spokane, he said, and which were contributing to this year’s Bellevue dinner. Secretary of Education Besty DeVos will speak at that event on Oct. 13.

“There’s a little bit of confusion when we list the events in both locations, as to who is sponsoring what event,” Cargill said.

Dawson singled out Starbucks, whose corporate logo still appeared on the Washington Policy Center webpage as of Thursday evening. In an email, the Seattle-based company denied supplying any funds for the Spokane dinner.

“We are not sponsoring nor are we involved in the WPC event in Spokane,” a Starbucks spokesperson wrote.

Farage, who has long claimed he doesn’t want to be a career politician during a 23-year political career, has been cited as the British analogue to Trump. The former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party appeared alongside the president in a photo taken at Trump Tower shortly after the election, and Trump called the Brexit vote a “great victory” for the country.

Cargill said Farage’s talk would focus “on Brexit, its impact on the United Kingdom and Europe, and the very special relationship between England and the United States.”

The Washington Policy Center reports it raises more than $1 million annually at the fundraising dinners. Tickets start at $60 for young professionals and $150 for regular admission, with current college students getting in for free. The event begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.