Reject vigilantism

Groups of armed men operating to independently enforce their own ideas of authority have murdered and terrorized black communities for hundreds of years in America under the guise of “community protection”. In the past several weeks, various outside armed groups have taken it upon themselves to patrol our neighborhood. Their presence is an implied threat to those of us who live here – “Behave how we want you to, because we will kill you if you don’t”. It is a message that attacks our freedom, and with both current events and the history of white supremacy in our community, is felt particularly hard by our residents of color.

As a neighborhood, we reject this message and stand against this behavior.

Vigilantism is not justice. Peace and order is maintained when violence can be held to account by a just and orderly process overseen by the community. Those acting on their own act for chaos and against our community.

We recognize that state law permits the open carry of firearms, but it also permits those in positions of power to speak out against this practice. To be silent is to abdicate our responsibilities to our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens.

As residents of the downtown neighborhood, we ask that all those involved in downtown civic life join us and others in our community in denouncing groups of armed vigilantes, and work to discourage them to the fullest extent possible by law.

Alan Chatham

Riverside Neighborhood Council Chair

Spokane