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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

‘Not a fiscal issue, a civil rights issue’

Jeffrey Brownson, attorney for Nicole LeFavour at the “Add the 4 Words” sentencing hearing this afternoon, said this about the protests this year: “These people throughout the legislative session were willing to put their liberty at stake, to face prosecution having no idea what the consequences could be. And they did this in order to stand up for what they believe in. And what they believe in is simply fair and equal rights for everybody. What they want is to stop the cruelty and the discrimination that goes on in this state. These protests were done silently, respectfully, and in a peaceful manner, your honor. It was the state’s decision to not continue to cite and release them, it could have. Those costs could have been deferred. But this isn’t a fiscal issue your honor, this is a civil rights issue. We don’t look back at the 1960s, at the great protests, and think, gee that cost a lot of money. We’re grateful.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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