Expert Feels ‘Hoodwinked’ By Show

Ted Wright expected to see families, not fanatics wearing camouflage grease paint and paramilitary gear.

“We were absolutely devastated when we found out what kind of show it was,” said the 74-year-old disaster-survival expert of his experience at the “Self-Sufficiency & Preparedness Expo.”

“I really feel we were hoodwinked.”

Wright, who fought fascism during World War II as a British soldier, said he felt the promoter of last weekend’s show at the Spokane Convention Center invited him and a few others to “validate” an otherwise extremist gathering.

“If we had known the list of speakers, we would have said ‘I’ll pass,”’ said Wright’s wife, Kacey. “You can’t mix oil and water.”

She said she feared for her safety. As she and her husband left the Convention Center, she said they were “flipped off” by young people protesting outside.

“The show itself was the classic, self-sufficiency, Militia of Montana-type show,” Wright said. “It was an anti-Semitic gathering.”

An anti-Semitic speech given by Christian Identity pastor Pete Peters, Wright said, “had the audience cheering and stomping.”

“I don’t share those beliefs,” he said.

Wright said he has advised Los Angles police on preparing for earthquakes, did a public radio interview on preparing for Hurricane Opal and spoke with the Japanese media after the one-year anniversary of the Kobe earthquake. Wright, who now lives in Alberton, Mont., said he wanted to speak in Washington because of the Puget Sound fault, Mount Rainier and recent ice storms.

He was disappointed that the families he usually speaks to were replaced by fascists. There were “rows of Bowie knives and hunting knives,” he said. “You don’t want to expose children to that.”

A few other vendors - a solar-power systems vendor and an herbalist - were just as shocked, Kacey Wright said.

Mark Byram, who sells food processors, was driving back to Tacoma Sunday night and could not be reached for comment. However, his wife said Byram was surprised at all the attention drawn by the show.

“I think he was probably disappointed because of the atmosphere,” said the woman, who wouldn’t give her name.

“I mean, we sell a house product.”

, DataTimes