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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Carl Maxey Put Passion Behind Words

Some quotes from Carl Maxey over the years….

“The issue is not between the young and old, the rich and poor, the liberal and conservative. We all must unite and bring this administration down. Somewhere Nixon must tell the American people the truth. His hands are sullied by arrogance and indifference. So get up and do your duty.” Oct. 23, 1973, speaking at a rally in support of President Nixon’s impeachment.

“He did sell whiskey, and sure there were some prostitutes hanging around his place, but his was the only place to serve people of the night, and the poor, instead of committing burglaries, could go up to his place and get something to eat.” - April 6, 1981, arguing in favor of a statute honoring Sam Houston Willis, former operator of the notorious Sam’s Barbecue Pit on South Sheridan.

“There were a number of fights I had when I was instructed not to try to beat the guy up. There were mismatches. But that was good experience, too, from a discipline standpoint. Nobody ever thinks about that part of it - not knocking somebody out who you’re clearly superior to. That’s a far more decent deed than trying to addle somebody’s brains.” - Oct. 13, 1983, in an interview about his boxing career.

“I saw bums in your alleys and people begging for your food. … Don’t give me no goddamned award. Give those people some food.” - Dec. 12, 1982, on receiving the William O. Douglas Bill of Rights Award, the ACLU’s highest statewide award.

“It’s time for him to be a powerful leader of a political party, not a cowardly lion.” - Feb. 9, 1994, in chiding then-Gov. Mike Lowry for not investigating an alleged racial slur by a county Democratic Party official.

“Love rears its head in the strangest places. It was a lovely ceremony, all things considered.” - March 26, 1993, on the jailhouse marriage of one of his clients, a convicted murderer, to another inmate.

“Racism has run amok in Spokane over the last six months in a way that we have never seen before. If you brought in 50 black people in this town and they didn’t have WSU uniforms on, half of them would be arrested.” - Jan. 26, 1989, in blasting the Spokane Police Department’s strategy to keep California-based drug gangs out of town.

“Nothing is more derisive to the two-party system than a man masquerading as a Democrat who is really a Republican at heart.” - March 1970, in a letter criticizing Sen. Henry M. Jackson for receiving money from Republicans.