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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Local protest stays peaceful

As their cohorts in New York City were arrested in droves Saturday, organizers of the Occupy Spokane protest, which began Wednesday, say there have been no arrests locally and conflicts with police have been minimal.

“They’ve done an awesome job,” organizer Jessica McPhail said of the Spokane Police Department. “One person received a ticket. Other than that, the police have been very respectful.”

McPhail said community members have dropped off food and water, while teachers, firefighters and others have offered support to the group of about a dozen people protesting across from the U.S. federal building in downtown Spokane. An American Medical Response ambulance driving by the group Saturday night honked its horn in apparent support.

The protesters are there in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protesters and to speak out against economic injustice and the social ails that accompany it.

“People must realize every issue boils down to the current monetary system,” she said. “We no longer have a choice of ignoring this.”

An Occupy Spokane general assembly will be held at 10 a.m. today near the protest site at Riverside Avenue and Monroe Street to discuss the group’s objectives.

- Chelsea Bannach