Kootenai County Task Force On Human Relations Scrapbooks 2018 by Molstead Library at North Idaho College

January 20 18 - The F ig Tr ee - Page 3

North Idaho schools work with human rights task force The Kootenai County Task Force for Human Relations (KCTFHR) is organizing the 33 rd annual Children's Program Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. 's Works on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey. About 900 fifth graders from 10 Coeur d'Alene schools will meet at the church at 9:30 a.m., and about 600 fifth graders from six Post falls schools will be there at 1 I :30 a.m. The program on "Don't Be Little, Be Big: Courage, Safety, Value and l(jndness" is presented by Stu Cade, an educator and actor residing in Coeur d'Alene. Offices for his Ovation Company are in Denver. The students will be given bracelets with a big elephant and three little elephants, and the words of the theme. One child from each school will read an essay about a dream or someone who is their hero-Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., a grandparent or someone else. "It's an important age to teach children about kindness and respecting people," said Tony Stewart of the KCTFHR, noting that the school district has worked with the human rights organi2ation for 33 years to coordinate a children's Martin Luther King Jr. program. "It's one of the task force's signature projects." With more than 36,000 fifth graders introduced to human rights by this program over the years, Tony, who has gone to all 32 years of the events, noted that some of the first students are now in their 40s and have children attending. For information, call 208-765-3932.

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Jan 11

• Police Ombudsman Commission Meeting, City Council Chambers, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. • Showing up for Racial Justice, 35 W. Main, 6:30 to 8 p.m., 838-7870 • Cafe Affagato Community Day Benefitting the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, 35 W. Main, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., 838-7870 • Peace and Justice Action Committee, 35 W. Main, 5:30 p.m., 838-7870 • Hispanic Business/Professional Association Monthly Luncheon, Bob Lutz, Spokane Regional Health District, Perkins Restaurant, Division and Olive, 11 :30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hbpaspokane.net • Fuse Spokane Club, books on Martin Luther King Jr., Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main, 6·p.m. • Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council, Spokane Regional Health District, 1101 W. College Ave. noon to 1:30 p.m., 838-7870, • Inland Northwest Death Penalty Abolition Group, 35 W. Main, 5:30 p.m., 838-7870 • Veterans for Peace Meeting, 35 W. Main, 6:45 p.m., 838-7870 • "Don't Be Little, Be Big: Courage, Safety, Value and Kindness," Children's Program Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s Works, Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey, Coeur d'Alene schools at 9:30 a.m. and Post Falls schools at 11 a.m., 208-765-3932, idahohumanrights.org * Justice Night: Talk to a Lawyer for Free, Center for Justice, 35 W. Main, 5:30 p.m.,cforjustice.org

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January 11, 2018 33rd Annual Hurnan Rights Celebration

Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream!" 54th anniversary of his timeless speech - August 28, 1963

}i; :- Welcome and Introductions o Bill Rutherford & Aaron Drake, Principal of Northwest Expeditionary Academy & Assistant Principal of Ramsey Magnet School of Science

}i; :- Martin Luther King Jr. - A Tribute to Peace slideshow }i; :- National Anthem -

Paige Hunt, Atlas Elementary Special Chorus

}i; :- Student Essay Readings o Sydney Moyle (Atlas), Eleni King (Fernan), Solarah Roberson (Borah), Jackson Hughes (Northwest Expeditionary Academy)

~ Atlas Elementary Special Chorus - Directed by Pat Houck o "All God's Creatures Got a Place in the Choir"

}i;;:-Why a message of kindness? }i; :- Student Essay Readings o Gabrielle Haldi (Winton), Adeline Smith (Sorensen), Maisy Hayes (Ramsey), Kyle Waddell (Bryan)

}i; :- Introduction of Stu Cabe }i; :- "The Big Elephant Story" - Stu Cabe }i; :- Student Essay Readings o

Helena Ochenkoski (Hayden Meadows), Emma Martin (Dalton), Zach Linford (Skyway)

}i; :- All Audience sing-a-long o 'True Colors"

Dismissal to buses

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Essay Winners and finalists: All essays will be read by the authors during the program Place winner: Zach Linford - Skyway Elementary - "Thoughts of Abraham Lincoln" 2nd Place runner-up: Emma Martin - Dalton Elementary - "I Have a Dream" Honorable Mentions: }> Eleni King- Fernan STEM Academy- "Martin Luther King Jr." }> Helena Ochenkoski - Hayden Meadows Elementary - "My Dream" > Adeline Smith - Sorenson Magnet - "King's Dream Lives in our Hearts" > Gabrielle Haldi - Winton Elementary - "What Makes a Hero" }> Maisy Hayes - Ramsey Magnet - "I Have a Dream" }> Sydney Moyle - Atlas Elementary - "I Have a Dream of Opinions" > Kyle Waddell - Bryan Elementary - "Martin Luther King Jr." }> Solarah Roberson - Borah Elementary - "I Have A Dream" )"' Jackson Hughes - Northwest Expeditionary Academy - "Martin Luther King Jr. 's Dreams" 1 st

Martin Luther King J r. Celebration Art Entry winners: Place winner: Dalton Elementary School 2Â°d Place runner-up: Bryan Elementary School Special thanks to all of the classrooms who submitted art/ Please take a moment to view all of the entries in the foyer area 1 st

Special Chorus Hayden Meadows Elementary School Director: Pat Houck Isabella Brinson Arwen Huetter Paige Hunt Aaliyah Lopez Hannah Markel Keira Burk Sienna Grant Harmony Jenks Campbell Hancock Maxwell Riley Johnny Rae Schnatter Tonya Dunnington Alyiah Frazier Darrow Freeman

Ashlyn Jensen Taylor Winey Kensey Knoll Kelsey Carroll Breese Cleave Isabelle Covey Kiera Flaherty Haley Jenkins Kyla Meyer Emilee Mitchell Mia Boettcher Kinley Evarts Skyla Guerrero Aubrey Gettman

Adalynn Hoke Kailee Kropf Abigail McLean Elizabeth Nelson Alana Thomas Kayla Winkle Hailey Adkinson Rian Bennett Peytton Jennings Stormy Marich Alexis Moceri Georgia Nelson Lillian Osborne

We would like to thank those who helped sponsor this event: The Coeur d'Alene School District and The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

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www.cdapress.com

Friday January 12, 2018

Biggest elephant in the room? Love, of course Cabe discussed a TV program he watched, where little "punk" elephants bullied and killed white rhinos on a By DEVIN WEEKS wildlife refuge until six Staff Writer mature "big" elephants were brought in to stand up for the little rhinos COEUR d'ALENE Don't be a little elephant. and put a stop to their abuse. Be a big one. He pointed "The big elephants, they do what's right and to the images of Dr. Martin Luther King what's good," educator Jr. on the screens that and professional hung on each side of the actor Stu Cabe said sanctuary stage. to a room full of Post "I would suggest Falls fifth-graders in that guy in the human Lake City Church on Thursday. "The little world, he might have been one of the biggest elephants do what's big elephants we've ever selfish and popular. had," Cabe said. "He's The big elephants say, 'I listen to my heart the guy who came in and my head.' The little and said, 'No, that's not what we do here,' and elephants say, 'I don't care about either of those things. I just care about See ELEPHANT, A7 me."'

Area fifth-graders attend Martin Luther King Jr. event

Stu Cabe makes a funny elephant joke to a group of Coeur d'Alene School District students at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Program Thursday morning at Lake City Church.

Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press

Jackson Hughes gives a speech to fellow Coeur d'Alene School District fifth-graders during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Program at Lake City Church on Thursday.

Friday, January 12, 2018

The Press

fifth-graders? You're the next big elephants." Cabe is the owner of from A1 Colorado-based Ovation Company, a school the little elephants were resource organization that focuses on positive like, 'That's what we've always done,' and he's school climate and improved student like, 'We don't do that anymore. That's not achievement with the purpose of helping what we do here."' students "work hard, This practical pachyderm analogy play fair and be nice." His speech was was at the heart of followed by student essay Cabe's speech, which he delivered to about presentations. Several 1,400 fifth-graders from students representing the Coeur d'Alene and their schools shared Post Falls school districts their writings with the during the 33rd annual audience, describing how Dr. Martin Luther King certain King quotes have moved them. Jr. Fifth Grade Kids When McCall Program. The Post Falls Willey of Greensferry session immediately Elementary took the followed the earlier microphone, his message Coeur d'Alene session. was clear: He chooses Cabe encouraged the love. fifth-graders to practice the same kind of courage "'I have decided to shown by the big stick with love. Hate is elephants and to promote too great a burden to peace and kindness the bear,'" he said, quoting way King did during his King. lifetime. "This is powerful "He's the one who because love is the most came in, and just like important and powerful thing in the world," our elephants here, he didn't fight, he just said, McCall said. "What this 'That's not what we do quote means to me is, if here,'" Cabe said. "You're there's too much hate in in this auditorium today the world, love can make .because half a century a difference. If someone 'ago, that big elephant can make a difference with love, positivity started recruiting other big elephants and started and determination, then saying, 'That's not what make the world a better we do here.' Now you're place. "Love is a better sitting here celebrating that because guess what, choice to choose.

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LOREN BENOIT/Press

The Atlas Special Chorus sings "True Colors" for fellow Coeur d'Alene School District fifth-graders during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Program Thursday morning at Lake City Church.

Hate is horrible and discriminating. That's why I'll always stick to love.'' Cassie Byers of Prairie View Elementary was inspired by King's ''l have a dream" speech. "These words were said by a man who was assassinated on April 4, 1968," she said. "His words speak to me because he believes

the people should only be judged by their character or their actions ... not their looks." The program, presented by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, also included dance routines and musical performances by the students. Since the program's inception, more than

36,000 fifth-graders have participated in the event "As we celebrate the 33rd year of this historical program, the KCTFHR continues to have a front window into the world through the eyes of children as they learn about the contributions and sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," KCTFHR President

Christie Wood said in a press release. "In the world of a child, there is no color that prohibits opportunity, love, justice and a united nation. We are all better through the eyes of our children. This program will continue to teach us that." Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 15.

The Press, Tuesday, January 16, 2018

NORTH IDAHO:

Some young Americans bet it all on the farm / C3

Shuler receives posthumous medal of achievement Idaho human rights leader Marilyn Shuler received the 2018 Idaho Medal of Achievement posthumously Monday from Gov. Butch Otter. Shuler, who was 77 when she died in February, served for 20 years as director of the Idaho Human Rights Commission. The Idaho Medal of Achievement was presented to the Shuler family, represented by Idaho Air National Guard Col. Tom Shuler. At a ceremony in the Idaho Capitol, Otter was joined in presenting the award by former Gov. Phil Batt, whose own career in public life was

distinguished by his work on human rights issues. "Marilyn Shuler is the unquestioned, alltime champion of human rights in Idaho," Batt said. The Idaho Medal of Achievement was created by executive order in November 2015 to recognize individual Idahoans for their "exceptional, meritorious, and inspirational" service to the people of Idaho. Otter chose Martin Luther King Jr.-Idaho Human Rights Day to make the announcement and present the award. "1 can't think of a better day to honor Marilyn Shuler than

on a day we recognize the sacrifices and accomplishments of those who advanced the cause of human rights through their own self-sacrifice and determination," Otter said. "Marilyn was every bit a stalwart champion for human rights and a guiding light in our state for decency and compassion." The four-member Idaho Medal of Achievement Commission nominated Shuler for Otter's final consideration. "Marilyn Shuler JEROME POLLOS:Press lilo was one of over 60 Marilyn Shuler speaks In Coeur d'Alene Idahoans who were in 2007 about human rights to fifth-grade students from Atlas and Hayden Meadows See SHULER, C6 elementary schools.

NORTHWEST 2 • TUESDAY • JANUARY 16. 2018

NORTHWEST THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

.JESSE TlNSLEY/rlU: SPOKESMAN·REVTEW

Marilyn Schuler speaks to a crowd of fifth-graders at North Idaho College on Jan. 12, 2007 In Coeur d'Alene.

Idaho Medal of Achievement awarded posthumously Gov. Otter aiu1ounces 2018 recipient Marilyn Shuler Associated Press

BOISE - Gov. Butch Otter has announced that the 2018 Idaho Medal of Achievement, the state's highest award, is being given to the late Marilyn Shuler, the longtime chair of the Idaho Human Rights Commission and champion for improv-

ing human rights. Otter said Monday he delayed the announcement to announce the honor "on this particular day, a day that our nation sets aside to rememher Martin Luther King, and the work, self-sacrifice and dedication of those who have gone above and beyond in the name of human

rights." Shuler died last year at the age of 77. Shuler led the Idaho Human Rights Commission for two decades and served on numerous boards, including the Boise School Board and the City Club of Boise. She was part of the YWCA nontuition kindergarten program for low-income children and also volunteered for several years as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children under

the jurisdiction of the Fourth Judicial Court. Shuler served on the advisory board of the College of Public Affairs at the Boise State and on the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and was a community representative on the Idaho Statesman's editorial board. Shuler held degrees from the University of Utah and Boise State University and received honorary doctorates from Boise State University and the University of Idaho.

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Gratitude galore On behalf of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Board, we wish to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to the Coeur d'Alene Press for your outstanding and in-depth coverage of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fifth Grade Children's Program for the past 33 years. You have captured and shared with your readers the powerful and remarkable student essay readings, musical performances and dance groups by the fifth-graders from the Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts, as well as the messages of nationally recognized human rights speakers who have addressed the students over more than three decades. The children have taught us to choose love over hate. This year's essay readings and messages of hope and kindness from 18 young students brings to mind Biblical passages from both the Jewish and Christian faiths as described in the Complete Jewish Bible and the King James Bible that from the mouths of children comes praise for the Almighty God, and with a modern additional interpretation of a message of strength and wisdom from the children's words. We wish to thank the faculty, staff, administration and school boards from both school districts for their many years of commitment to this program in a partnership with the KCTFHR. We also extend a thank you to the many parents and families over these 33 years who have not only supported the schools' efforts to maintain this program, but also a family environment that teaches their children to respect and recognize the rights of all humanity. CHRISTIE WOOD

President Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Board of Dh·ectors See LETIERS, AS

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SHOOTING: Memo from the heart

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The city of Park.land, Fla. The Honorable Mayor Christine Hunschofsky 6600 University Drive Parkland, FL 33067 Dear Mayor Hunschofsky and Commission: We wish to express and extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy and prayers during this unimaginable time of tragedy to all those families that have suffered the loss of loved ones, the families whose loved ones have 6een injured and to all the residents of your fine city. We hope that it will be of some comfort for you to know that we like Americans across this vast land have you in our daily thoughts and prayers that you do not stand alone in this time of grief and · sorrow. Today, we were touched by the voices and statements from victims of previous mass shootings from around the country that shared their experiences of how they found strength during their time of tragedy through the support of a network of friends along with the entire community who were there for them. We know your community will do the same. Again we extend a hand of friendship and love to all the residents of the city of Parkland. God be with you. With Deep Sympathy, CHRISTIE WOOD

President TONY STEWART

Secretary The Kootenai County Task Force on Buman Relations Board of Directors //

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Sunday February 4, 2018

DEV1N WEEKS/Press

Tony Stewart, retired NIC instructor and former chair of the committee that led the rally against condos on the beach near the college, shares a collection of photos during a visit to The Press last week. This framed collection includes memories from 1987, when the beach was dedicated to The Coeur d 'Alene Tribe. H is personally signed by the late Cecil Andrus, who was Idaho governor at the Ume of the dedication.

Battle for the beach Students, citizens rallied to oppose condo proposal 46 years ago By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer COEUR d'ALENE -

Imagine the beach along the dike road by North Idaho College covered in condominiums. No more summer barbecues while happy children build castles on the shore. No more romantic sunset walks as lakewater laps sandsprinkled bare feet. No front row spots for fireworks. No views. No public access. No way. "I'll be walking along there and I'll see people down there at the barbecue pits or they'll be playing around, and I think quietly to myself, 'It came very close that you couldn't be here,'" said retired NIC instructor Tony Stewart. "I think that every time I go through and see people playing and having a good time." It is a reality that could have been, if not for the fast and fierce action of those who understood the value of public access and preserving the beach for posterity. The present-day monetary value of that 3,410-foot stretch of beach is more than $70 million

LOREN BENOIT/Press

A woman walks her dog along Yap-Keehn-Um Beach next to North Idaho College Wednesday afternoon In Coeur d'Alene. North Idaho College purchased the section of land In 1977. The land was later dedicated to The Coeur d'Alene Tribe.

- its appraised value was near $50 million in 2007 - but when condos were proposed 46 years ago, those who opposed realized you cannot put a price on paradise. "There's a moment that comes along for a decision, and you have to make it right then or it's gone forever," Stewart said. "It all started with the staff of the Cardinal Review." Student journalists in early 1972 at NIC caught wind of plans by Spokane-based Pack River Properties, which then owned the land, to construct a

condo complex on the waterfront near the college. They brought the news to Stewart, who discussed it with students and faculty. At once, the Committee to Prevent Construction of the Proposed Coeur d'Alene Lakefront Condominiums was formed, with Stewart at the helm. "They thought I would be an activist with them," Stewart said. "This is part of the legacy of those wonderful students who cared that way." This was mid-January, 1972. A student petition

immediately began to circulate, and by early February, hundreds of signatures had been gathered to prevent the construction. "It would have changed the face of the entire downtown core, and certainly the college," said ChristieÂˇ Wood, chair of the NIC board. "The beach and the beautiful grounds that we enjoy at the college, that is the face of the college. If you look at all of our marketing materials that we sena out to students, the See PROTEST, A2.

The signatures were delivered just in time for a Feb. 15 city council from A1 meeting. ''The place was packed beach is a big draw to with our supporters," students and the whole Stewart said. "But the community. I can't even officials from Pack River imagine. The view would were very polite and be blocked. It would be very courteous. That's a private access." really important point. The "beach It was all really good condominium dialogue." controversy" spread As the petition through town like drive took place, late wildfire. Media coverage environmental attorney was daily and the Scott Reed examined "Petition to Protect Ft. the legal aspect of the Sherman Lakefront condo controversy. When Area" was distributed the Winton Lumber to Lake City citizens by Company sold the land volunteers who went in the 19l0s, it stipulated door to door despite that the property the snow. In just more could not be used for than three weeks, 3,504 commercial purposes. adult signatures and It was discovered that 150 signatures from when the U.S. Army local school kids had Corps of Engineers lifted been gathered. With a the dike road and moved population of just more it inward at one point, than 16,200 people, those NIC owned 19 feet of land signatures represented off the dike road toward more than 22 percent of the lake and the beach, the population. thus land-locking any "We're very very path for construction. fortunate for these Reed, with his community activists. I understanding of tort didn't even realize it was and common law, also a month turnaround," prepared a "Declaration Wood said. "Today, you Concerning Real have social media where Property Use," which maybe you can make many senior citizens things happen quickly, signed to declare they but that was walking the had used the beach as beat. They just did an a path for more than 40 amazing campaign." years without objection from the property owners, thus establishing The C~ur d'Akne l'ffss aod tht Post Falls Press (USPS 120-500, ISSN "prescriptive rights." 1041-2883) is published dally byTI1e Stewart praises Coeur d'Alene Pre~. Inc 215 N. 2nd Reed's swift thinking SL. Coeur dA!coc. Idaho 83814. and commitment to Sugges1NI rat6 for hoiat dtliltt}: finding answers; he Daily and Sunday: b)' carrier, $4.63 per. week. Daily Only: by carrier, SJ.58 per dedicated the case study, v.cck Monday-Friday by carrier. $3.03 "The Story of How a per.,cel., Weekend; b) c.irrier. $3.16 Grassroots Campaign per v.cck (ta., ,nduJcd) 3,410-Feet of Saved Ralu ror mail dtlhef)': ( Payable m Public Beach from adV3nce)Daily and Sunday. $26.00 ~ch 4wccb. Mon-Sa1'S18.00cach4 "eel, Condominiums: 1972Sat Sun S17 IXl e3Cb 4 \\eeks. Sunday 1977," to his longtime onl), Sl4.00 each~ v.ccks (tlllC friend and colleague. included). 01her subscnp1ion lcng1hs "The dedication to avadnblc Periodical po,iagc paid a1 Reed of this is just Scott Co<:ur d'Alcnc:. ldJho !B814 and a1 so essential because add11,onal mailing offi.= Pos1mas1,r: Please send address he was one of the most changes 10: brilliant minds in the The Coeur d'Alene Press. field of law," Stewart 215 N 2nd. Coeur d'Alene. Idaho 83814 said. "He had that

PROTEST

kind of ability to think through the process." Reed, who died at 87 in 2015, was also instrumental in preserving Tubbs Hill, a separate project. Citizens, students, community leaders, civic groups, legislators and more weighed in on the condo issue, and before they even submitted an official application, Pack River officials offered to sell the property for $800,000. "The response of the college and the city was, Âˇwe can't afford it,"' Stewart said with a chuckle. "Here's the magic thing," he said. "Scott Reed went to (then-NIC President) Barry Schuler, and they went to Pack River and negotiated it down to $260,000. It was private negotiations between the two sources." "Isn't that amazing?" Wood said. "Parallel with what's happening today ... It's been a little over a decade that the college went through the process of buying the education corridor, which was the lumber site. We went through a lawsuit over that, there was the pushback from people who wanted it for private enterprise." Pack River voluntarily went into receivership of the property with Bob DeArmond, who owned the DeArmond mill. "Mr. DeArmond was the key person that Scott and Barry Schuler worked with to bring (the price) down," Stewart said. "ln those days people had those kinds of relationships." Several entities kicked in funds, including the Idaho State Waterways, Kootenai County Boat Licenses, North Idaho College and a federal grant from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The purchase was made in 1977. A decade later, the beach was dedicated to The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, named "Yap-Keehn-Um" (The Gathering Place) to honor the many years the Coeur d'Alenes had hosted other tribes during annual celebrations on that piece of summer paradise. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations commissioned and purchased a sign to be erected before the ceremony, with the stipulation the Tribe give the beach its name. The dedication happened on July 18 of that year, and was attended by dignitaries including then-Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council Chair Ernie Stensgar and the Council, then-Coeur d'Alene Mayor Raymond Stone and then-Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus. Another celebration was held during the 30th anniversary of the beach purchase in 2007 when Reed announced the monetary value of the land. This event was hosted by NIC and attended by representatives, dancers and drummers from the Tribe. Wood said another celebration will most likely be scheduled to honor the 40th anniversary before school lets out for the summer. "On all these projects, whatever it is, they only can succeed through co)laboration and coalition," Stewart said. "And strong community leaders that are willing to step up and work hard," Wood said. "When you look around, all the things that make up the heart of Coeur d'Alene, you can picture our community leaders' faces that worked so hard to make it haooen."

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

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SUNDAY, February 25, 2018

. •• Wherever I went my name was Happy Watkins; it got me a long ways.,, ~ , ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ " " ' " ' ,:'·""~

The Rev. Percy ..HaPPY" Watkins Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church

PHOTOS BY DAN PELLF./THE SPOKESMAN-RF.VIEW

Percy " Happy" Watkins is retiring as pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church. Here he visits the Veredale United Church of Christ for a gathering of Faith Leaders & Leaders of Conscience on Wednesday in Spokane Valley.

WATKINS Continued from l removed, thought I might have cancer," Watkins said. "I was really overdoing it ... I stressed out." During the peak of these health problems, his youngest son and the church's assistant pastor, the Rev. James Watkins, filled in admirably at New Hope. Now, after settling into the church's new home, the elder Watkins is ready for his son to take over full-time. Next Sunday, Watkins will retire at New Hope, and his son will take over as lead pastor. Watkins will be honored with a party on Saturday, though family and friends are keeping most of the details from him. "Now it is his time," Watkins said focusing back to his son. "He is a counselor at Airway Heights Corrections Center, and that gives him a unique position ... he has his own style, he's funny, and a master of events. He has a lot of original stuff." Âˇ Watkins' retirement only officially applies to New Hope. Though he says he'll give himself more free time, he will still be out there speaking, sharing his message and the words of King. "I still have a few more dreams to recite," he said. "I don't want people to think I'm being put out to pasture." Robinson said the Spokane community will continue to lean on Watkins. "The fact is he is going to be tapped into as being a great mentor," Robinson said.

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Watkins, who turns 76 next month, has been in Spokane for 57 years. Born in the Bronx, Watkins' first taste of public speaking originated from a "living words" speech contest in high school. The first year he took first place in his borough, and the second year he placed third in all of New York City. Still, Watkins never considered himself a natural performer. "I had to work hard at it," he said. In 1961, right after high school, he enlisted in the Air Force, with his initial training in San Antonio. Two months later, he was assigned to Fairchild, and the location described to

TYLER TJOMSLAND/rHJ;; SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Rev. Percy "Happy" Watkins delivers Martin Luther King Jr.'s ''l Have A Dream" speech on Jan. 15 at the Spokane Convention Center. Watkins says that his retirement is only from the church - he'll still be sharing King's words and working in the community. him came as a bit of a shock. "At first I was thinking I was going to Spokane D.C.," Watkins said. "I was 19 and half years old and I started crying ... (I was told) about bears, severe winters. I was destroyed." "I lived in the Bronx," he continued. "A million and a half people, not to mention all the millions in the entire city. It was diversity at its best, and I didn't realize it at the time." Watkins said he felt isolated and depressed in his first months here. Then he joined Morning Star Baptist Church in Spokane. "The older congregation there took me in and let me feel at home," he said. "I had a place to be. A place to go every Sunday." In 1962, he met a Lewis and Clark High graduate, Etta, and they were married in 1963. They wilJ be married 55 years this coming August But in January 1964, the Air Force sent Watkins to Okinawa, Japan, without his wife. It was there that Watkins began to focus on his path forward. "I was immersed in my own kind of meditation," Watkins said, then referring his prayers to what Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. "I was asking God, 'What's my

future?' Because I didn't know." lt led him back to Spokane. The Watkinses would have four sons here, and he worked as a grocery clerk, and a school bus driver. He then worked as a salesperson for Xerox, then traveled throughout the Northwest selling pharmaceuticals. Watkins said he often tells the story of his first experience in Bonners Ferry in the early 70s, when he walked into a restaurant and everything stopped. "Even the cook flipped the flapjack up and the pancake stopped in midair," Watkins said. "They didn't see many people of color; same thing happened in a lot of places." That's when his father's advice really began to shape his perspective. "Wherever I went my name was Happy Watkins; it got me a long ways," he said.

A family man becomes

a community Icon

Watkins' public life in Spokane began when his boys reached middle and high school. Being one of just a few African-American families in their neighborhood, he became concerned about some of the

trouble and name-calling that was happening at school. "I got involved with the high school, with the parents and the teachers, just to help the community to understand," Watkins said. "The challenge was I wanted the boys to get a good education. They were all good athletes, and they bad a lot of black friends and white friends ... they would all come over, because they knew I'd be cooking." His reach expanded. He worked with broader organizations and became involved in reaching out to the prison population. "I thought I could change the system, but the system changed me," he said. ''It gave me a great lesson in treating people right." He became a chaplain at Deaconess Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital. Beginning in 1985, he served as the assistant pastor at Calvary Baptist Church until be took over at New Hope in 1990. "I just like people," he said. "It's just a matter of not just getting involved but genumely involved ... the cause will define who you are, and people will believe in you." "I Have a Dream" imprinted on Watkins the first time he

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heard it He would go on to memorize the speech, and it was around 1983 when he began to deliver the speech to much acclaim, garnering requests from churches, schools and to groups throughout the Inland Northwest and beyond. In an interview he gave last year for The Spokesman-Review, Watkins said, u1 know the speech. But not just the speech. I know the struggle. And that's what makes the combination so powerful. The speech and living through turmoil." Robinson said Watkins' performances inspire the same peaceful advocacy King strove to accomplish in his lifetime. "It's the genuineness that carries through," Robinson said. "That message of love and compassion and inclusiveness for all people." Now on the eve ofretirement from the church, Watkins still sees the importance of continuing to deliver the speech and fighting for its impact "I'll be 76, and we still have a long ways to go," he said

Ill Ill

'Take care of your kids'

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Watkins sat for this interview just a couple of days after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and the events were still heavy on his mind. He recalled speaking to victims of violence over the years, and how the community often reached out to him looking for answers. It's never been easy, he said, but he hopes he's been able to provide some comfort. But back to his son. He credited James Watkins for his ability to reach young people. Passing the torch to his son at New Hope Baptist Church is just an extension of what Watkins began when he first got involved at his children's school. "I focus on family, home and the kitchen table," Watkins said. "You've got to sit down at the table and talk to Mom and Dad and to listen to what they are saying. (Your parents) may not know the latest dance, but they got here and they're taking care of you." And then Happy Watkins will ask more about your kids. His face will light up, and, with that smile, he shows you everything you need to know about his legacy.

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The Press, Tuesday, March 6, 2018

BANQUET from C1

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oca Reyes to speak

atHuman Rights Banquet inCd'A Raymond Reyes, associate academic vice president and chief diversity officer for Gonzaga University, will deliver the keynote speech at the 21st annual Human Rights Banquet hosted by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. The Reyes banquet will take place Friday, April 20, at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 Appleway Ave., with a reception at 5 See BANQUET, C3

p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person with tables available. All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Education Institute and fund four minority scholarships at North Idaho College. Funds from a live and silent auction will benefit the task force. The theme of this year's banquet is "Our Pursuit for Equality and Social Justice for the Human Race Continues." Prior to his current position, Reyes taught undergraduate courses in sociology, religious Âˇ studies and philosophy as well as a graduate seminar for the MBA program on tribal leadership at Gonzaga. He has been at Gonzaga since 1987. "Raymond is one of the few truly Renaissance individuals with incredible .,. compassion that I'~ met in my life," said longtime friend and KCTFHR founding member Tony Stewa.rt. "We're so fortunate to have him as our keynote speaker at this year's banquet." As an internationally recognized authority in human rights, equity, social justice, diversity education,

"We're so fortunate to have him as our keynote speaker at this year's banquet~' TONY STEWART, KCTFHRfounding member Indian education, sports psychology, m ulticulturaJ literacy, spiritual signficance of human differences and more, Reyes has conducted seminars and given addresses throughout the U.S., Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Colombia and Canada. He has spoken to audiences at colleges and universities, hospitals, schools, businesses, churches and government agencies. From 1994 to 1998, he conducted classes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on sports psychology for the Native American male and female elite runners. As a model for the athletes, Reyes has completed 11 26.2-mile marathon races. Reyes has published numerous articles and chapters in books on more than a dozen topics. He holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University, a master's degree in public administration from the City University of New

York and a doctorate in education leadership from Gonzaga. Reyes has been the recipient of a multitude of awards, including the Eugene T. Carothers Human Relations Award, the Spokane NAACP Community Leadership Freedom Award and the GU Institute for Hate Studies Eva Lassman Take Action Against Hate Annual Award. Reyes' community work has included serving on the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, Spokane Task Force on Human Relations and Thin Air Public Radio and Leadership board. The board of the Idaho Hall of Fame will attend the banquet and will induct three new members: The Coeur d'Alene Tribe; longtime Coeur d'Alene City Council member Ron Edinger and Jerry Jaeger, co-owner and former president of Hagadone Hospitality. For tickets and info, visit idahohumanrights. org and click on "banquet" or call 208-7653932.

Featured Keynote Speaker

Dr. Raymond F. Reyes Banquet Theme: Our Pursuit for Equality and Social Justice for the Human Race Continues

There wm Be ASIient Auction And One live Auction Item You Won't Wint to Miss! Cost of Tickets & Tables: $40 for individual tickets Silver Tables: $500 for a table for 8 persons & includes being listed in the program as a Silver Sponsor & a good table location. Gold Tables: $1,000 for a table for 8 persons & includes being listed in the program as a Gold Sponsor, and a prime location for your table. Payment must be in by Tuesday April 17th!

THE 21ST ANNUAi. ...

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FRIDAY April 20, 2018 at The Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Silent Auction and Reception at 5:00 P.M. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. \

Please clip & return this registration form with your check or money order. Make checks payable to: BREI (All Profits Go to HREI) For more info call: 208-765-3932 Mail to: The Buman Rights Education Institute, P.O. Box 2725, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 $40 individual tickets: Number of tickets @ $40 per person Total $ _ _ _ __ Name: Address: - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone#: $500 table: Name Address: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Phone#: $1,000 table: Name Address: - - - - - -- - -- -- - -- - -- - -- - - -- - -- - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone#: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MENU CHOICES: Please indicate menu choice for each person. Tickets will be mailed to you with your menu choice on it. Please bring your ticket with you so your server can bring you the choice you selected! Contains Gluten Gluten Free

Top Sirloin Dinner (broiled medium), topped with onion rings, Tossed green salad , Seasonal fresh vegetables, Chef's potato, oven fresh rolls, Chef's choice of dessert

Bow Many? - - - - + - - -

Fresh Baked Fillet of Salmon Dinner with hollandaise sauce, Tossed green salad, Chef's rice, Oven fresh rolls, Chef's choice of dessert

How Many?

Eggplant Parmesan Dinner, Tossed green salad, Oven fresh rolls, Chef's choice of dessert

How Many? - - ~ - --

Meals served with brewed coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea.

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Kootenai CountyTask Force on Human Relations Re1 The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) began 2017 co-sponsoring the 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fifth Grade Students Program with the Coeur and Post Falls school districts. 1,400 fifth graders attended the two programs on January 12. During the 32-years of the series, over 36,000 fifth graders have participated in the program. In February, the KCTFHR Board celebrated its 36th year from the inception of the organization in February 1981. On April 28 we held the 20th annual KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet and auction with keynote speaker Phil Tyler, the past president of the Spokane Chapter of the NAACP. During the third week of August, we sponsored our annual booth at the North Idaho Fair sharing our information and message about our work with thousands of regional attendees. After several months of the distribution of vile hate flyers in the Sandpoint and Bonner County region, we joined with our sister organization the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force along with a number of prominent community leaders on September 6 and held a press conference condemning and denouncing the hate campaign. Idaho Governor Butch Otter provided us a letter for the press conference condemning these acts of hatred when he wrote: "We have dealt with White Supremacists and other groups fueled by hatred before. We told them then---as we continue to tell them now and in no uncertain or ambiguous terms---they are not wanted here and will never be welcome here. Idaho joins the rest of the nation and the world in condemning white supremacist violence and bigotry of any kind. We've experienced those problems in Idaho, but we dealt with them in the right way and we're not going to tolerate it. There is no room for hatred in our beautiful state:' After several months of planning, the KCTFHR was a co-sponsor of the 4th Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies International Conference on October 19-21 titled: "Engaging with Communities for Justice'~ We sponsored the Friday night GU lnstitute's banquet keynoted by Idaho State Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb and her accompanying the 30-member GU Women's Chorus performance following her address. On October 26, Tony Stewart and Norm Gissel were the keynote speakers at the all-day inauguration of the Marilyn Shuler Human Rights Initiative at Boise State University, as well as an afternoon meeting with students at the BSU Diversity and Inclusive Center on campus. The Shuler Initiative will become an annual event at BSU.

Some of our major accomplishments over almost four decades in partnership with other individuals, public officials, and like-minded organizations have included the passage of a series of Idaho anti-hate crime laws; the 1990 enactment of the Idaho Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. / Human Rights State Holiday; sponsorship of t he annual KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet for the past 20-years; sharing the message of human rights at the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo for the past 27 years under the leadership of JoAnn Harvey; support for the victims of hate crimes or malicious harassment; supporting individuals who have experienced discrimination; successfully proposed the 2013 passage of the Coeur d'Alene City Counci l ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in public housing, employment, and public accommodations; cooperated with other human rights task forces in t he area to combat messages and acts of hate; members of our Board have traveled across the United States sharing a message of justice and civil and human rights with audiences, organizations, and institutions; and through contacts with the media have served as a voice and advocate for equa lity, freedom and justice for al l. For more informat ion, view our website at

www.idahohu

International Civil & Human Rights S 21st Annual Human Rights Banq Dr. Raymond F. Reyes, Associate Academic Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Gonzaga University, will deliver the keynote speech at the 21st annual KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet on Friday, April 20 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. Prior to his current position, Dr. Reyes taught undergraduate courses in Sociology, Religious Studies and Philosophy as well as a graduate seminar for the MBA program on tribal leadership at Gonzaga. He has been at Gonzaga since 1987-1988. As an internationally recognized authority in such fields as human rights, equity, social justice, diversity education, Indian education, sports psychology, multicultural literacy, spiritual significance of human differences to name just a few, Reyes has conducted seminars and given addresses throughout the United States, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Columbia and Canada to audiences at colleges/universities, hospitals, schools, businesses, churches, and a number of government agencies. From 1994 to 1998, he conducted classes at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on sports psychology for the Native American male and female elite runners. As a model for the athletes, Reyes has completed eleven 26.2-mile marathon races. Reyes has published numerous articles and chapters in books on more than a dozen topics. He holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University (1977), M.A. degree in public administration from City University of New York (1984) and a Ph.D. degree in education leadership from Gonzaga University (2002). He has been the recipient of such distinguished awards as the Eugene T. Carothers Human Relations Award, Spokane NAACP Community Leadership Freedom Award and the GU Institute for Hate Studies Eva Lassman Take Action Against Hate Annual Award. Historically, Raymond's community work has included serving on the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, Spokane Task Force on Human Relations, United Way, and Thin Air Public Radio and Leadership Board. He describes his two sons and daughter as three angels that have greatly influenced his life. His long-time friend Tony Stewart says of him: "Raymond is one of the few truly Renaissance individuals with incredible compassion that I've met in my life. We're so fortunate to have him as our keynote speaker at this year's banquet:'

• Keynote Address • Presentations of Civil Rights Awards • Large Silent Auction • One Live Auction Item: A Signed Basketball by The 2017-2018 Gonzaga University Basketball Team! • Inductions into the Idaho Hall of Fame Place and time: Friday, Apri l 20th, 2018 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 Appleway---Reception at 5:00 PM and Dinner at 6:30 PM All profits from the banquet ticket sales go to the Human Rights Education Institute (HREI) and four minority scholarships at NIC. The funds from the auction go to the KCTFHR.

,daho Hall of Fame Board ~o lndu 21st Annual KCT~HR Human fti

The Idaho Hall of Fame Board of Directors will attend the KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet on April 20 , 2018 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn for the purpose of inducting three new members into the class of 2018. The inductees will be : The Coeur d'Alene Tribe , for its years of service to the people of Idaho regarding economic development , promotion of human rights and a long list of other accomplishments. Ron Edinger, the former mayor of the City of Coeur d'Alene and current city councilman with almost five decades in elected office serving the people of Coeur d'Alene . Jerry Jaeger, co-owner and former president of Hagadone Hospitality Company, and a prominent entrepreneur in the state of Idaho specializing in the promotion of tourism .

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW ~

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Neo-Nazi Yarbrough dies in prison Order member had clashes with law across NW By Chad Sokol THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A radical racist who once served as the personal bodyguard ofAryan Nations founder Richard Butler has died. Gary Lee Yarbrough was also a member of the neo-Nazi splinter group known as The Order, which sought to divide the nation along racial lines and establish, through a violent uprising, an all-white territory in the Pacific Northwest. He died of liver cancer early Monday in a hospice center in Pueblo, Colorado, according to his wife, Susan Hillman Yar-

brough. He was 62. Pueblo is a short drive from the Supermax federal prison where Yarbrough was servinga 60-year sentence. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons did not respond to a request for information, but an online prison roster confirmed that Yarbrough died on Monday. He had been in custody, in one facility or another, since November 1984. The Order funded its activities by counterfeiting cash and by committing a string of armed robberies, culminating with the July

See YARBROUGH, 4

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NORTHW EST 4 â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 6. 2018

NORTHWEST

YARBROUGH Continued from 1

1984 theft of $3.6 million from an armored truck on a highway in Ukiah, California. Some of that money was distributed to other white nationalist groups. Members and sympathizers of The Order planted real and fake bombs to divert attention while they conducted robberies in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Seattle in the mid-1980s. Those crimes were believed to have inspired bombings and robberies that took place in 1996 in Spokane Valley. Among the many crimes that investigators linked to Yarbough was the murder of Alan Berg, a provocative Jewish radio personality who was gunned down in the driveway of his Denver home on June 18, 1984. Yarbrough never was charged for that crime, though two of hls conspirators, Bruce Pierce and David Lane, were identified as the gunman and getaway driver, respectively. They too, have died in prison. Four months after Berg's assassination, on Oct.18,1984, Yarbrough shot at three FBI agents who were surveilling his house in Sandpoint They had been looking for his brother, Steven Yarbrough. Gary Yarbrough, then 29, later fled when agents entered the house. Inside; they found a portrait of Adolf Hitler, Aryan Nations uniforms and a cache of weapons that included a dozen firearms, 6,000 rounds of ammunition, four loaded crossbows, 100 sticks of dynamite, C-4 explosives, police scanners, booby traps and fragmentation grenades. One ofthose firearms, a MAC-10 submachine gun capable of firing more than 1,000 rounds a minute, was later identified as the weapon that killed Berg. After fleeing his house, Yarbrough remained at large until Nov. 24, 1984, when he was captured in a Portland motel after a shootout witl1 the FBI.

SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ARCHIVES

Gary Lee Yarbrough guards Richard Butler, the founder of Aryan Nations, during a June 1983 rally in Spokane's Riverfront Park. A few weeks later, speaking to a throng of reporters at the Ada County Jail in Boise, Yarbrough insisted he had nothing to do with Berg's assassination. ''I know nothingaboutAlan Berg," he said, "except that he was a Jew." Yarbrough had previously told the Seattle Times that his young daughter, Autumn, would someday be "firing bullets into the heads of kikes." At other times, he proudly referred to himself as an "Aryan warrior." Meanwhile, Robert Mathews, a founder of The Order who had been with Yarbrough at the Portland motel, fled to a house on Whidbey Island, near Seattle. Authorities laid siege to the house that December, and Mathews attempted to fend them off with an automatic rifle. The house caught fire when an

FBI agent fired several flares into the house, setting off a box of hand grenades and a stockpile of ammunition. Mathews kept shooting as the house burned, but when the wreckage cooled, authorities found him dead with a pistol still in hand. No law enforcement agents were injured. In 1985, Yarbrough received a 25year prison sentence after he was convicted on ll federal charges, including the assault on the FBI agents. The followingyear, he and four other members of The Order were convicted of racketeering and conspiracy charges stemming from armored truck burglaries in Washington and California. Yarbrough received another prison sentence of 60 years. In writings from prison that his widow posted on a blog and on Facebook, Yarbough often claimed he had never wanted to resort to violence, and he drew a murky d istinction between white separatism and whlte supremacy. In a phone interview, Susan Hillman Yarbrough said her husband had believed only ''that white people were allowed to love their own people and preserve their own culture, just as any race." The couple married in 2009, about five years after sh e learned about his story and decided to send him a letter while he was in prison in Indiana. She insisted that the government "came after" The Order and "forced their hand" into committing crimes. "The money that was stolen and counterfeited was actually meant to go to buy a town in Washlngton state that would have been outside of government control," she said. "It wasn't really about race or anything. It was mostly about government control" Then again, she said: "He really thought the governmentwas controlled by Jews." CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5047 chadso@spokesman.com

Page 2 - Tire Fig Tree - April 20 I 8

Human Rights banquet will be on April 20 The 2 Ist Annual Human Rights Banquet of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFH R) is Friday, April 20, at The Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway in Coeur d'Alene. A silent auction and reception begin at 5 p.m., followed by a dinner and program at 6:30. Raymond Reyes, associate academic vice president and chief diversity officer for Gon7.aga University, will speak on the theme

of "Our Pursuit for Equality and Social Justice for the Human Race Continues." Âˇ He is an internationally recognized authority in human rights, equity. social justice, diversity education, Indian education, sports psychology, multicultural literacy and spiritual significance of human differences. " Raymond is one of the few Renaissance individuals with incredible compassion chat I've met," said Tony Stewart, KCT-

FHR secretary. The evening will also include Civil Rights Awards, a live auction of a basketball signed by the 2017-2018 Gonzaga Basketball Team, and inductions into the Idaho Hall of Fame. Banquet proceeds go to the Human Rights Education Institute (HREI) and four minority scholarships at North Idaho College. The auction supports the KCTFH R. For information, call 208-7653932.

'Kootenai Couni:y 'Task 'Force On '}(uman 'Re(ations 21st ~nnua{ 'Banquet

Cefe6ratin8 37 Year's We Extend a Special Thanks to the Following Benefactors

Gold Gonzaga University Center for Global Engagement (2)

of PromotinB '1-{uman 'Riafits Banquet Program D inner

Pl edge of A ll eg ia nce We lco m e to Coeur d ' Alene Int roducti o n s

6 :30 p .m . Sandi Bloem Ho n. Steve W id m yer M ayo r of Coe ur d ' A lene To ny Stewart M aste r of Ce remo nies

Hagadone Hospitality Margaret Reed Foundation

Keynote Address:

Millennium Business Services The Coeur d' Alene Tribe (2)

Silver

Dr. Raymond Reyes Assoc iate A cea dem ic V P Gon zaga Un iversity

Civil Rig hts Awar ds Prese ntati o ns Idaho Hall of Fame Inductions

C hri st ie Wood, Pres .KC T FHf3 a nd Sec. To ny Stewa rt IHF B oard M e m ber s

Avista Corporation Gonzaga University 20 17-18 Cultivation Counseling Men 's Basketb al l Auction Ginny Delong C los ing Remarks Tony Stewart Bernie Gurstein Human Rights Ed. Inst. (2) The North Idaho College Foundation and t he Human Rights Education Judi Hanna Institute (through t he banquet profits provided to HREI by t he KCTFHR lewis-Clark State College have proudly part nered for 20 consecutive years to fund a tota l of 87 Gene & Paula Marano minority student scholarships. The awards are made in honor of forme r Marshall & Dolly Mend Idaho Govern or Phil Batt an d former Idaho State Senator Mary Lou Reed NIC Board of Trustees The scholarships represent the student populations of African American, Native American, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/ Latino, LGBT and NIC SBS & Humanities Diversity students w ith disabilities. The 2017-2018 recipients are Keanu Shioya, NIC Communications & Lydia Libbey, Hassan Hawthorne, Charles Williams and Osaze Ogbeide. Gov't. Relations NIC VP of Student Services The NIC EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARDS for 2018 are on the back of this program. NIC Diversity Council (2) Parkwood Business Properties A special thanks to Jeff Crowe of Bunkhouse Media The Spokesman-Review and Andy Finney of Local Motion Media for their contributions of video taping and airing of the banquet! The University of ldaho-CDA Âˇ

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Friday April 20, 2018, 5:00 p.m. reception and 6:30 p.m. dinner. - The Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn. All auction profits go to the KCTFHR. All Banquet profits go to the Human Rights Education Institute.

NIC EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARDS for; The Award is based on t hree criteria: 1. A demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity, and respect for others in the nominee's public and personal life; 2. A commitment to fostering and promoting an appreciation for diversity, respect, and inclusiveness and the strengths these bring to NIC; and 3. A commitment to Diversity Core Va lue "A learning environment that celebrates the uniquenessÂˇof all individuals and encourages cu ltural competency"

Evanlene Melti ngTallow Advisor American Indian Support North Idaho College (Staff) Michelle Lippert Philosophy Instructor North Idaho College (Facu lty) Renae Miller North Idaho College Volunteers with Service Refugee Program (Student)

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Wednesday April 18, 2018

Peace, progress, equality, respect North Idaho College hosts third annual Diversity Symposium By DEVIN WEEKS Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE - Working weekends as an obstetrics nurse long before she became North Idaho College's vice president of instruction, Lita Burns realized something profound. She would experience birth up to four or five times a day, babies born to mothers from all different walks of life. "They may all look different, but when that baby is born, when that baby comes out of the womb, you realize that we are all equal," Burns said. "Those babies come out of the womb identically equal. Just face value. Equal." This led her to wonder: "If we, as humans, come into this world as equals,

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how is it we get to a place where we treat people so unequally, so disrespectfully, disrespecting who they are and where they came from?" "I have this interest from my practice as a nurse to understand why it is that we change how we treat people when we are really, truly all equal," she said. "What I've come to understand ... is that it really is the community with which people are raised U1at I think influences their

approach to other people. "That community Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Pless might be as narrow as Next to his wife Elva Allan, Chief Allan, chairman for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, their own nuclear family, speaks about h~man rights, education, and the history of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe or it could be as broad Tuesday evening at North Idaho College's third annual Diversity Symposium. as the region or nation that they are a part of that tremendously influences how you react and interact with other people." She said education holds the key to better understanding of human rights, "and it's the understanding of human rights that holds a key to our respecting of human rights." The rights, hardships and hope of all humans were discussed in great detail and from varying perspectives Tuesday during NIC's third annual Diversity Symposium, which had the theme of "Exploring Race and Ethnicity."

The symposium included an entire day of , activities, including displays of student art, a performance by the Interactive Justice Choir, roundtable discussions, peace studies and Mickey Mouse Monopoly that focused on social constructs and bias. The symposium culminated with an evening panel "Peaceful Progress in Human Rights" - that was attended by roughly 40 people. The panel featured Burns, keynote speaker and retired NIC instructor Tony Stewart, Advanced Management Strategies owner and consultant Elva Allan and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Chairman Chief Allan. Elva, who is married to Chief and has worked

with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for 20 years, shared some of the struggles, strategies and goals for the Tribe and its future generations. "We need to have hope. Education for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe is one huge avenue of hope for them," she said. "We need to keep the hope alive that people will want to have the discussion, and that those within the community and the Coeur d'Alene tribal kids and natives in the community will keep the hope alive, they will get through school, they will come back and make a difference. But also that we can work with allies ... to keep that message out there that equality is critical, it's what's .needed to keep us in peace and growing and not taking steps back." Stewart, a local human rights powerhouse with a resume of accomplishments several decades long, presented in his speech several examples of social injustices in American history and their journeys to today - the generations of pain that followed the Civil War, the Trail of Tears, Japanese internment camps of World War II and others. "From the earliest stages of human existence, race relations

Lita Burns, NIC vice president for Instruction and HREI board member, answers questions at North Idaho College's third annual Diversity Symposium.

Âˇ have been one of the most challenging struggles to create a culture in which all races and ethnic/ nationalities experience true equity," Stewart said. "Racism has led to the enslavement of millions of people, devastating wars, unjust laws and untold harm to the human condition." And yet, there is hope.

Each panel member provided examples of how individuals can be agents of positive change: standing up to injustice, asking questions, having one-on-one conversations, .showing others mercy and respect. "At the end of the day, we have to be human," Chief said. "It's up to all of us. Look in the mirror."

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Saturday April 21, 2018

LOREN BENOrT/Press

The Idaho Hall of Fame welcomed three deserving and worthy members, Jerry Jaeger, Ron Edinger and 1he Coeur d'Alene Tribe at this year's 21st annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Human Rights Banquet, held at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. From left, Ellen and Jerry Jaeger, Ron and Nancy Edinger, and Elva and Chief Allan with The Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Jerry Jaeger, co-owner and former longtime president of Hagadone Hospitality, has been a leader in Idaho of promoting and serving the tourist Industry for years. Ron Edinger was elected mayor In 1973 and served for four years, returning to a city council seat In 1979 and has been re-elected ever since. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe consistantly gives back to t he community and has helped work with the KCTFHR for some 37 years.

They'll go down in history of fame during the 21st annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Human Rights Banquet, held at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. By DEVIN WEEKS Each inductee has many Staff Writer accomplishments of which to be proud. Jaeger, co-owner and former COEUR d'ALENE - The longtime president of Hagadone Idaho Hall of Fame welcomed Hospitality, has been a leader in three more worthy and deserving members when the 2018 Idaho of promoting and serving inductees were announced Friday the tourist industry, reaching across the United States and the evening. globe. The hospitality division Prominent and successful is one of North Idaho's largest businessman Jerry Jaeger, employers, with 1,850 employees longtime Coeur d'Alene City during the peak season. Councilman Ron Edinger and Jaeger has served on the sovereign Coeur d'Alene Tribe were inducted into the hall many boards and contributed

Jaeger, Edinger, Coeur d'Alene Tribe inducted into Idaho Hall of Fame

to numerous charitable organizational efforts through the years. He has worked with KCTFHR secretary Tony Stewart for years to recruit conventions featuring conferees/ delegates of great diversity to visit North Idaho and provide a meaningful counter to the unfair image that had been fostered by what is now the former Aryan Nations. Those conference guests returned to their homes with the true story of Idahoans. When Jaeger was called upon to assist the KCTFHR's efforts to adopt Coeur d'Aleneâ&#x20AC;˘s See HALL, A7

revenue to the state to support education. Through this program, from A1 more than $21 million has gone hack to schools, school districts, anti-discrimination ordinance in 2013, he was universities, colleges and immediately on board nonprofits. and was very effective in The Tribe's work his support. with KCTFHR has been Jaeger said when he solid since the Task received the news about Force formed 37 years ago. The Tribal Council being inducted into the hall of fame, he stopped has worked with KCTFHR to promote the board meeting he was attending to let out a and support human rights while combating yelp of joy. bigohÂˇy, prejudice and "l couldn't help discrimination. myself," a jovial Jaeger "Being a part of said Friday. "It's a very this organization has nice honor. I know been so fulfilling to people like Duane the Tribe," said public Hagadone and Jack Simplot are already in relations director Jennifer Fletcher. "Any the hall of fame, so I'm kind of recognition proud of the company I'm joining this evening is not what we strive for, but nonetheless with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Ron Edinger." we are completely and totally honored by this The Coeur d'Alene award. We're going to Tribe employs nearly 1,800 individuals, receive it with grace and making it the seconddignity and we hope to largest employer in continue our fabulous North Idaho. relationship (with KCTFHR) through the The Tribe years." consistently gives Edinger earns his back to its community. place in the hall of Economically, it fame after serving the has an annual $330 million impact on city of Coeur d'Alene the region each year, for nearly five decades. and contributes an He was first elected annual $13 million in to Coeur d'Alene City state, county and local Council in 1969 and government taxes. served four years on the In 1992, the Tribe council. He was elected volunteered to give mayor in 1973 and served 5 percent of gaming for four years, returning

HALL

to a city council seat in 1979 and has been re-elected ever since. When Edinger was mayor, Coeur d'Alene purchased Tubbs Hill and the Idaho Water company, Independence Point was developed and recreational programs were greatly expanded. Edinger was also instrumental in preserving Person Field, located at the corner of 15th Street and Garden Avenue, as a public space when development loomed over the property. In 2013, as chair of the City General Service Committee, Edinger led the committee's positive recommendation of the passage of the anti-discrimination ordinance, banning discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation. It was approved by the council in June 2013. "I just want to say it's a great honor that I've been selected to be in the Idaho Hall of Fame," Edinger said. "I thank the people of Coeur d'Alene for their continued support over the years, and also my family and my wife, Nancy, who has been a great supporter. I just want to say 'thank you' to everybody."

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Are we alive? Are we unique? Are we surrounded by beauty? After listening to the words of Gonzaga University's chief diversity officer Raymond Reyes, one is reminded that yes, we

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"!<'eel your heart right now," Reyes said Friday evening, asking the roughly 370 people in the room to place their hands on their chest as though saying the Pledge of Allegiance. "Feel your heartbeat. Are you alive? Is that good news? Say, Tm alive," he said. "Give a thumbs-up. Look at your thumb. Realize this, that there are 7.4 billion humanoids speaking over 6,000 languages and no one on this third stone from the sun has the same fingerprint you are looking at." Captivating, charismatic and sincere with a touch of levity, Reyes delivered the keynote speech during the 21st annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Human Rights Banquet at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. See BANQUET, A7

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This year's theme, Âˇour Pursuit for Equality and Social Justice for the Human Race Continues," resounded throughout Reyes' thoughtprovoking presentation, which included examples of frustration between strangers, an examination of America's soul, the difficulties of accepting the naked truth and descriptions of the symptoms of inner peace. He posed three questions for his audience to ponder, questions that are not unlike those asked by customs officials at border crossings: Who are you? Where are you going? Do you have anything to declare? "1 don't know about you, but I think those are some pretty heavy, deep and real questions, don't you?" he said. "You would have wind in your sail and ride in your glide had an impeccably clear response to those three questions every day that you wake up." These questions, he said, are insightful when one goes from the known to the unknown, "although sometimes what we see in the political landscape in this country seems like Groundhog Day; we have seen this before. And sometimes we end up taking one step forward, and two steps back." "We are the miner's canary, the ones who

"We are the salmon swimming upstream going against the current speaking truth in the face of power, are we not?" RAYMOND REYES, Gonzaga University chief diversity officer detect challenge and eliminate toxic threats to the claim that human difference in balanced paitnership with freedom and responsibility is the soul of an authentic multicultural democracy, the spiritual DNA of healthy, human systems on this planet," he said. "We are the salmon swimming upstream going against the current speaking truth in the face of powPr, are we not? "Where are we going with our power of thought in our pursuit for equality and social justice for the human race?" he said. "Where will we walk the talk of this affirmation that this effort is enduring, that it continues as we negotiate the landscape from the known to the unknown? "This is what I want to think out loud about this evening the two key elements of tonight's thematic focus are 'pursuit' and 'it continues.' Indeed, it is a marathon. As we go from the known to the unknown, how do we avoid burnout? How do we battle social justice fatigue? By bathing in the waters of our resilience." Reyes is an

internationally known speaker on topics including human rights. equity, social justice, diversity, American Indian education, sports education, multicultural literacy and spiritual significance of human differences. His presentation was praised with a standing ovation when he concluded. "Let us have the courage to be who we are," he said. "To close the gap between rhetoric and reality. between principle and practice, is an act of courage and integrity, the integration of head and heart." After Reyesâ&#x20AC;˘ speech, several awards were presented. The 2008 KCTFHR Bill Wassmuth Memorial Volunteer-of-the-Year Award went to Ann Johnston, North Idaho College technical services librarian and NIC Molstead Library circulation technician Patty Torok-Pierce. This year's KCTFHR Civil Rights Award went to four individuals: Kristine Hoover. Katey Roden and Brian Cooney from Gonzaga and the Rev. Happy Watkins of New Hope Baptist Church in Spokane.

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LOREN BENOIT/Press

Raymond Reyes, associate academic VP of Gonzaga University, speaks about human rights, equality, social justice, diversity and more at the 21st annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Human Rights Banquet, held Friday evening at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

Readers Write BANQUET: Let's step up I had the pleasure of attending the 21st annual Human Rights Banquet on Friday evening. As Tony Stewart identified donors who had purchased tables, he mentioned several tables where donors sponsored local high school students. There were students from Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (sponsored by Gonzaga's University Center for Global Engagement), Lake City High School, and Coeur d'Alene High School. When I looked at the Coeur d'Alene Press on Saturday, I saw two stories on the banquet including pictures of the Idaho Hall of Fame inductees and the presenter, Raymond Reyes. I couldn't help but feel pride in my community and these particular citizens who have been fighting the battle for human rights for many years. However, I kept feeling like there was a story missing. The story of those high school students who are poised to be our future leaders. Leaders in the fight for human rights! As we remember and honor those who have been working for many years on these issues, let us not forget the youth. Let us make a path, give them tools and invite them to engage actively in the process. Thank you to those who sponsored local student attendance. Thank you to HREI for its youth initiatives. Thank you to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations for its leadership. I pledge to purchase a table next year and invite young people to attend. What will you do? KATERIRAY

Core Faculty School of Public Service Leadership Department of Social Work Capella University

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The work begins here Human Rights Commission boosting its statewide presence By DEVIN WEEKS Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE -

The Idaho Human Rights Commission is on a mission to re-establish itself around the state, and the journey is beginning in Coeur d'Alene. "The Human Rights Commission needs to have a more visible presence," administrator Benjamin Earwicker said. "I'm hoping to get back to that model of local engagement." Earwicker, commissioners and other staff members spent a couple days in the Lake City this week to work on strategic planning and to connect with some of North Idaho's human rights leaders. On Friday morning, they met with Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations president Christie Wood, secretary Tony Stewart and attorney Norm Gissel as well as Coeur d'Alene Tribal

LOll[N BENOIT Press

Idaho Human Rights Commission administrator Ben Earwicker speaks to local and regional human rights representatives during a meeting Friday afternoon at Holiday Inn Express & Suites In Coeur d'Alene.

Employment Rights Office (T.E.R.0.) director Jim Nilson to discuss some history, present activity and future opportunities that will invite collaboration as each entity moves forward in its human rights work. "Most of civil rights, in my opinion, is recognition of the problem," Gissel said.

He gave an example of a situation on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Pocatello, which several years ago was taken over to build an airfield and phosphate plants that have since been abandoned. "They have two industrial waste zones on the Indian reservation, so the experience

from 1945 to now with the white people of America are two waste sites that are hazardous and one lost airfield, and why isn't that a human concern, a civil rights concern?" he asked. "One of the first things I would do, I See RIGHTS, CS

The Press

established by the Idaho Legislature to help protect people from from C1 illegal discrimination. It also handles complaints would find a way for under federal law this organization or deferred to them by some other organization the Equal Employment to apply itself to these Opportunity Commission. outrageous problems." "Our focus is to He said a highway resolve conflict as has been built on some early as possible, of the waste, which is to the satisfaction radioactive. of both parties," "It's the only place Earwicker said. you have a radioactive Earwicker said he is highway, and that pleased with the results is a human concern of Friday's meeting because the Native and that engagement Americans, our fellow activities with the Idahoans can't even commission can be use large parts of their expected in the next own country," he said. three months or so. "What's happened in These events will include America, and in Idaho forums for individuals, ... we have lost our business owners and moral clarity. And when other community you lose your moral members to provide clarity, you lose your feedback and interact focus, and you lose your with the commission on initiative, and you lose the local level. your enterprise and He said the work to your hard work." connect and collaborate The Idaho across the state is Commission on Human starting in North Idaho Rights is a Department "because there's so of Labor agency much knowledge and

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Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations attorney Norm Gissel, left, and Idaho Human Rights Commission president Brian Scigliano listen to a speaker Friday morning during a meeting between the commission, officers of the Task Force and the director of Coeur d'Alene Tribal Employment Rights Office. The meeting was held as one of the commission's first steps to re-establish itself around the state and strengthen relationships with human rights leaders In Idaho communities.

experience there that we want to partner with." "Nor th Idaho has been a leader and a model for other regions of the state. The Task Force is

a learning model that I wish more communities would follow," Earwicker said. "I think the rest of the state can learn a lot from North Idaho."

The Press, Friday, June 1, 2018

SECTION

C Region still fights racist reputation At first, I didn't get it. A friend in Charlotte sent

me a text that said: "Idaho weeps for Roseanne." Next, I received an email from another pal who simply wrote: "Coming soon to Coeur d'Alene - Roseanne Live!" Finally, the light came on. People I know from around the country - the ones who have never been to North Idaho STILL believe after all this time that we're living in a hotbed of racism. They assumed that folks here would be universally sympathetic to Roseanne Barr. who'se popular sitcom was canceled by ABC following the worst in a series of vitriolic. race-hate and conspiracy theory tweets. Barr finally crossed the "You're fired!" line when she tweeted a description of former Obama administration aide Valerie Jarrett as a child of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. ABC almost instantly pulled the plug. See CAMERON , C4

Friday, June 1, 2018

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"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," said Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment Group. There was such a consensus that Barr's statements had become downright disgusting

Northwest that even conservative icons Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity agreed with ABC's decision. And yet ... A few of my friends living elsewhere believed that North Idaho would be "Roseanne Country," where everyone tweets racial insults on their lunch hour. "That's just plain wrong," said Don Bradway, a megaconservative and unashamed spokesman for the American

Redoubt. "Look, this is a fact: I don't know a single racist here. "If somebody speaks or thinks that way. I would have nothing to do with them and neither would the people I know." As for Roseanne ... "She's just an unpleasant human being," Bradway said. "I could use some worse adjectives, but I'll leave it there." One incredible irony in attempting to tie

The Press

conservative Americans to Barr's beliefs is that this is the same woman who drew the condemnation of President George H.W. Bush after she shrieked the National Anthem prior to a San Diego Padres game in 1990 then spit and grabbed her crotch.

for 350,000 robo-calls to households in California - inviting white people to North Idaho with the slogan " ...very white is very right." "We absolutely have to make the point that racism hasn't completely disappeared," said Tony Stewart, co-founder of both the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (for BUT WBAT about this vague notion that the fight against Butler's neo-Nazis) and the North Idaho remains a Human Rights Education haven for white people who want nothing to do Institute. "We have to stay with people who don't vigilant," Stewart said, look like themselves? "because I suppose it's Sandpoint resident just in some people's Scott Rhodes recently nature to express hateful has popped up like a things. It comes from minor league version their insecurities. of the Aryan Nations' "There's no question, Richard Butler, though, that the work this distributing racist literature at schools and community - this whole claiming that he's paid region - has done over

the past four decades has helped change the entire culture." Stewart is pleased but wary.

"Just the fact that someone across the country believes this is a place for hate, well, it tells you how hard it is to change perception as well as providing education about human dignity," he said. "I've said this so often: We've seen hate up close, and it's not welcome here." Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand. New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each

week. Email: scameron@ cdapress.com. Twitter: @ BrandNewDayCDA

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Task forces denounce racist claims By KEITH KINNAIRD News editor

SANDPOINT - North Idaho human rights groups are banding together and call upon residents to stand up against claims that the region is a redoubt for racists. The Bonner and

Kootenai county human rights task forces issued a

joint statement condemn· ing remarks made by a white supremacist Scott D. Rhodes which falsely label

the region as "very white" and "very racist." Rhodes, who recently relocated from California to northern

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Spokane and more than 350,000 calls to Californians which labeled U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein a "traitorous Jew," in addition to threatening anti-Semitic calls in Alexandria, Va. "We call upon all members of our region to step up and show in action and numbers that Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties will not tolerate hate, racism or anti-Semitism in any form," Bridges said in the statement. "The BCHRTF and KCTFHR once again join forces to counter this new Sandpoint resident's erroneous declarations and state what is true about our communities." It's not the first time North Idaho has been marketed as an Aryan homeland by white nationalists and it's not the first time locals in Bonner and Kootenai counties have galvanized to reject such notions. The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in Coeur d'Alene has given financial and legal support to

victims of hate crimes since 1981, when the group was founded. One of the most prominent cases occurred in 1998, when the task force convinced two victims of a serious hate crime to allow the task force and the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama to represent them in a civil case against the Aryan Nations and three of its adherents. The suit resulted in a $6.3 million judgment in 2000, which bankrupted the neo-Nazi group. The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force formed in 1992 amid warnings that the Aryan Nations had been active in the area since 1980 and was growing more violent. Since then, the task force has taken a strong stand whenever racist activity threatened citizens of the region. It deposed the Aryan Nations and Vincent BertoUini, former publisher of the 11th Hour Remnant Messenger, which used direct-mail campaign to spread its anti-Semitic message. The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force published a full. page advertisement

bearing the signatures of 1,100 resident who refused to stay silent and pledged to speak out against hate. Since 2000, the task force bas also distributed thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors who demonstrate their support for human rights. It also created an endowment fund to distributes $18,000 annually to organizations and schools for human rights activities and programs. Holocaust survivors have also visited Bonner County to share their stories with adults and students on three occasions. The two task forces joined forces in September to conduct a press conference denouncing Rhodes' distribution of hate messages. They were joined by Sandpoint city officials, in addition to the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and leaders in the religious community. The groups argue their opposition is the reason why hate groups have failed to flourish here. Moreover, they point to Census figures of five Inland Northwest coun-

ties which demonstrate the rapid growth of racial diversity in northern Idaho and eastern Washington. "All of this evidence that the portrayal of North Idaho as welcoming to bigotry and hatred is just not true! Those who attempted to make it so have failed as will Scott Rhodes' message of hate fail," Christie Wood, president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations," said in the statement. Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.

Robocalls: New delivery system for hate messages l Southern Povert ...

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SPLC Southern Poverty Law Center

Robocalls: New delivery system for hate messages June 29, 2018

by Bill Mortin

Human rights activists in North Idaho have confronted the Aryan Nations, the stigma of Ruby Ridge, Phineas Priest bank bombers and assorted other white supremacists. They've seen racist flyers, billboards, parades and cross-burnings. Now, they're dealing with racist robocalls and vile, antisemitic podcasts.

The robocall messages of hate apparently mark the first-time masscalling - generated with a few computer key strokes and delivered for as little as a penny per call - has been used to deliver a message of hate outside of a political campaign, robocall expert Alex Quilici told Hatewatch. "It's sadly clever and powerful," Quilici said. The robocalls included one last month to California synagogues and media outlets, labeling that state's Senator Dianne Feinstein a "traitorous Jew" and endorsing her opponent who admires Adolf Hitler and denies that millions of Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Other robocalls from the same source last year targeted the mayor and city council members in Alexandria, Virginia, police said. The calls to the Virginia elected officials came after white nationalist and racist "alt-right" leader Richard Spencer was confronted by a Georgetown University professor and later kicked out a fitness center in that community. The professor's photo subsequently was printed on l of 4

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the hate flyers distributed in the Virginia community. The new, high-tech, computer-delivered brand of hate is believed to be the handiwork of one man - identified by police and in media accounts as Scott D. Rhodes, who moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, from California. "We're coming to you from the racist capital of the United States ... very white, very racist North Idaho," Rhodes says in opening remarks of his podcasts. The robocalls and podcasts allow one individual to deliver hate messages to the world behind the anonymity of a computer keyboard. "These tools mean hate is not a local issue," Quilici said. "It's not a man with a sign in front of a school. It's a guy spreading his message of hate on a national or global basis, using an effective media platform." Robocalls can be generated quickly and easily, Quilici said. The sender can type in words generating a voice message or upload an audio file to dozens of broadcast voicemail providers selling their robocall services on the Internet. The sender then types in a spread.sheet of phone numbers, easily copied from web sites. Providers commonly charge 12 cents for a completed call - one where the recipient picks up the phone - or as little as one cent per calls that go unanswered. ''You don't really need any technical skills," said Quilici, a computer scientist and businessman specializing in "telephony," a profession dealing with phone-related issues. Robocalls, which have many legitimate purposes, can be done "easily, quickly and at very low cost," said Quilici, who owns YouMail, a company based in Irvine, California, that markets a robocall blocking app. "That's why a guy in a cabin in North Idaho with a computer can spread these messages of hate," he said. Quilici's company ran an analysis and identified the phone number apparently used by Rhodes. It apparently targeted fewer than 50 2of4

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recipients between mid-May and mid-June, Quilici told Hatewatch. "We, as a company, haven't see anything like this," he said, referring to the use of robocalls to deliver a hate message. "To me, it's super scary because they are not doing it on a large-scale yet," Quilici said. "But this would be very easily to scale-up and, say, for example, call all 800,000 people living in San Francisco." "It's the tip of a spear," he said of the new method of delivering hate. Rhodes doesn't identify himself in the podcasts, but has an on-camera presence, interspersed with swastikas and images of Hitler's reign. He has refused media requests for comment. "We're coming to you from the racist capital of the United States ... very white, very racist North Idaho," Rhodes says in opening remarks of his podcasts. Police identified Rhodes, also is known as Scott Platek, last November after his red Jeep was spotted on surveillance video at the Sandpoint high school where CDs containing racist, antisemitic material were left on vehicles. His ongoing racist activities prompted two human rights organizations, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, to issue a joint statement this week denouncing the new form of blatant racism. "We call upon all [residents] of our region to step up and show in action and numbers that Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties will not tolerate hate, racism or anti-Semitism in any form," Lynn Bridges, president of the Bonner County task force said. She said Rhodes' claim that Idaho is the "racist capital of the United States" is an "erroneous declaration," and pledged the two task forces will work to deliver their message about human rights work b eing done in the region. "We should remember Albert Einstein's words in these challenging times when he said: 'The world is too dangerous to live in - not because of the people who do evil, but because of the people who sit

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and let it happen,"' Bridges said. Christie Wood, president of the Kootenai County task force, which was behind the dismantling of the Aryan Nations two decades ago, said the new, high-tech brand of hate will be met head-on. "All of this is evidence that the portrayal of North Idaho as welcoming to bigotry and hatred is just not true," Wood said. "Those who attempted to make it so have failed, as will Scott Rhodes' message of hate." The Bonner County human rights group donates nearly $20,000 a year to organization and schools, promote human rights activities and programs and scholarships. Likewise, the Kootenai County task force, founded in 1981 and one of the oldest human rights groups of its kind in the United States, annually funds civil rights causes, providing financial and legal assistance to victims of hate crimes. For the past 33 years, the group has reached 37,000 school children through its annual funding of programs calling attention each January to the life and work of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. SPLC Illustration

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Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations 2018 Summer Newsletter UMAN IGHTS Reyes Keynotes 21st Annual KCTFH R Banquet On Friday, April 20 the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations hosted its 21st ann ual human rights banquet with 370 guests in attendance. The evening featured internationally respected diversity and human rights expert D r. Raymond Reyes, the Associate Academic Vice-President and Chief Diversity Officer for Gonzaga University. During his address, he engaged the audience with three questions: Who are you? Where are you going? Do you have anything to declare? Then he had those in attendance to place their hand over their heart as he said: "Feel your heartbeat. Are you alive? Is that good news? Say, I'm alive. Give a thumbs-up. Look at your thumb. Realize this, that there are 7.4 bi llion humanoids speaking over 6,000 languages and no one this third stone from the sun has the same fingerprint you are looking at." As Reyes neared the end of his inspiring speech, he concluded: "Let us have the courage to be who we are. To close the gap between rhetoric and reality, between principle and practice, is an act of cou rage and integrity, the integration of head and heart."

Nfeel your heartbeat"

Photo by Kyle Cossairt

Th is year's banquet theme was "Our Pursuit for Equa lity and Social Justice for the Human Race Continues". (Banquet continues on next page)

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe Makes a Large Contribution to the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

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At the close of the human rights banquet, Coeur d'Alene ~ It .':'-. 11t I, Tribal Council Chairman Chief Allan, on behalf of the Tribe, â&#x20AC;˘ 8')_,,~ ~ I announced the Coeur d'Alene Tribe would donate $10,000 to the IdahrT'S Âˇ ~~ KCTFHR for our on-going work to promote civil and human rights for all peop le. The KCTFH R Board expresses its deep appreciation and thanks to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for the trust it has that we will use the gift to continue our more than 37-years in support for social justice, oppose bigotry, support victims facing harassment or hate crimes, seek to eradicate discrimination, work with schools to Coeur d Alene Inn advance respect and dignity for their students and employees and continue to work with organizations and government for safe commun ities. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe has been a friend of the Task Force for more than 37-years.

(Banquet continued from front page)

Banquet Awards In add ition to Reyes' address, the Task Force honored Ann Johnston, the North Idaho College Technical Services Librarian and Patty Torok-Pierce, NIC Library Circulation Technician with the 2018 KCTFHR Bill Wassmuth Memorial Volunteer-of-the-Year Award for their numerous hours of work to p lace the KCTFHR Human Rights Collection on the N IC website in a digital format for viewing by the public. The 2018 KCTFHR Civil Rights Award was presented to four deserving individuals: Dr. Kristine Hoover, Executive Director of the Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies and GU faculty member; Dr. Katey Roden, GU faculty member in the Department of English and Women's and Gender Studies; and Dr. Brian Cooney, faculty member in the GU Center for Public Humanities based on their long-ranged project in creating a digital platform to share the 37-year history of the KCTFHR successfu l story of confronting and defeating the th reat of the neo-Nazi movement in the region while advancing social justice. The civil rights award was also granted to Rev. Happy Watkins for hi s decades of work in the field of civil and human rights as well as his spiritual leadership often being described as the Inland Northwest's pastor. Photo by Kyle Cossairt

Idaho Hall of Fame Inductions at the Banquet The KCTFHR was honored to welcome the Idaho Hall of Fame Board of Directors to the banquet for the purpose of the induction of three candidates. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe was honored for its decades of commitment to economic development, job creation, social and cu ltura l contributions to al l society and the Tribe's outstanding record promoting civil and human ri ghts for all people. Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Ron Edinger was inducted for his almost five decades of public service as an elected city officia l in the capacities as mayor and councilman. Jerry Jaeger, co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality and longtime successful businessman, entrepren eu r and philanthropist, was inducted for hi s decades of promotion of economic deve lopment, job creation and his dedication and support for social justice as exemplified by his support of the KCTFHR. This year's ,banquet success was further il lustrated by proceeds of more than $27,000 for future NIC minority student schola rships, education programs and the work of both HREI and KCTFHR.

Special Recognition and Thanks to Banquet Benefactors We wish to express our gratitude to those who purchased KOOTENA COl gold and silver tables resulting in the financial success for this year's c&·-1 A banquet: GOLD: Gonzaga University Center for Global Engagement (2); The •• ••,11 Coeur d'Alene Tribe (2); Margaret Reed Foundation; Hagadone Hospitality; Millennium Business Services. .,.. SILVER: Avista Corporation, Cu ltivation Counseling, Ginny Delong, Coeur d'Alene Inn Bernie Gurstein, Human Rights Education Institute (2), Judi Hanna, Lewis-Clark State College, Gene & Paula Marano, Marshall & Dolly Photoby K leCossairt Mend, N IC Board of Trustees, NIC SBS & Humanities Diversity, N IC Communications & Government Relations, NIC VP of Student Services, NIC Diversity Cou ncil (2), Parkwood Business Properties, The Spokesman-Review, and The University of ldaho-CDA.

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Special thanks to Jerry Jaeger for his winn ing auction bid of $4,000 for the 2017-2018 Gonzaga University Men's Basketball Player's Signature Ball.

KCTFHR Co-Founder Tony Stewart Works with Gonzaga University to Share the KCTFHR Story with Colleges and Communities Across America

Photo by Kyle Cossairt

In the summer of 2017, three members of the Gonzaga Un iversity faculty including Kristine Hoover, Ph.D.; Katey Roden, Ph.D.; and Brian Cooney, Ph.D. met w ith Tony Stewart of the KCTFHR and proposed to develop, through the use of an in-depth Photoby Kyl eCossairt digital format, the KCTFHR story of how ordinary people can do extraordinary things in their commu nities for Victory OVer hate and advance SOCial justice.

The project will include case studies of twenty communities across America that have consulted with the KCTFHR over the past 37-years on how to adopt peaceful strategies to combat hate groups that had invaded their communities to engage in acts of intimidation, harassment, threats of violence and/or hate crimes. The Gonzaga University digital platform wil l also include simu lations and curricula student based problem-solving exercises for viewers to the site in assisting them with developing strategies and plans to create safer communities based on social justice. It is the goal of the project to share this story with a broad audience including individuals, organizations, activists, institutions and especia ll y col lege students across the United States and even communities abroad. Kristine Hoover, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Gonzaga Un iversity Institute for Hate Studies and facu lty member at GU, is writing a related book that will accompany the project.

A Letter From KCTFHR President Christie Wood Dear Friends, It's with great pride the KCTFHR continual ly marches forward in our efforts to promote dignity and human rights for all. In my past l ife as a police sergeant, one of my roles was supervision of the School Resource Officer Division . We had a saying in our unit that actually became curricu lum taught by our very talented Officer Tom Sparks at Woodland Middle School. It is "Character Matters". This very simple premise has taken on an even greater meaning for each of us in these times of social and racial unrest. A person's character is what compels them to stand up, speak out, and reach back for the downtrodden. We have witnessed great character in our community this year in many ways. I was privileged to attend, and speak at a March for Our Lives rally promoted by students to support safety in schools. A young girl by the name of Ashley Romanowski organized the rally, and in doing so faced bullying by other students and adu lts. Ash ley is living proof that character matters. She stood bravely, and asked for adults to take action and make schools safer. There are many examples of people like Ashley in our community. You, our dear friends of the Task Force, always support our efforts to make human rights and civil rights a beacon shared by all. We deeply appreciate your support for the last thirty-seven years, and we pledge to you we wi 11 keep moving forward because character does matter. Christie Wood, KCTFH R President

North Idaho College Molstead Library New Collection Beginning more than a year ago, George McAlister, NIC Molstead Library Director; Ann Johnston, NIC Technical Services Librarian; Patty Torok-Pierce, N IC Circulation Technician; and Andy Finney, NIC Coordinator of Learning Resources Technology undertook a major project to upload the almost 40-years of the KCTFHR human rights collection, the 39- years of the N IC Popcorn Forum Lecture Series and the 36-years of the NIC-TV Public Forum, a PBS aired program housed under the NIC Molstead Library Walden Hi storical Project. One can go to the on-line site and view or read the thousands of interviews, stories, documents and materials via using the NIC web to stream the co llection. One can view th is col lection by following these directions: 1. Google Molstead Library 2. Next page click on Molstead Library/North Idaho College 3. On the third page click on "The Walden History Project" 4. On this page on the left side of the page is a gray box that for example list human rights co llection, videos or popcorn forum---you can click on any one of those titles and get to what you are searching. If you need further assistance, you can call the Molstead Library staff at 208-769-3355.

Save This Date - Friday April 12, 2019 The 22nd annual KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet will be held on Friday, April 12, 2019 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn with the reception beginning at 5:00 PM and dinner at 6:30 PM.

Save these North Idaho Fair & Rodeo Dates: August 22-26, 2018 The time is fast approaching for this year's North Idaho Fair & Rodeo and once again our Task Force will need our friends to assist in volunteering to serve in our booth. Over the years our volunteers and board members are the reason we have successfully been able to meet, greet and welcome new friends to the human rights community from our booth. It is not too late to call and reserve your preferred time to work in our booth for a four-hour sh ift. The North Idaho Fair hours are from 10 am to 10 pm each day. As in the past, we provide your entry fee/ticket for those hours or shifts you work---what a good deal ! ! ! Thanks so much. Call JoAnn Harvey at 208-772-2409 to volunteer.

Remembering Why We Do This The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations was founded the first week of Fegruary 1981, at the First Christian Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in response to the victimization of a Jewish restaurant owner in Hayden,ldaho and a bi-racial family in Coeur d'Alene. Ms. Dina Tanners, a local acivist and a member of the Jewish commun ity, organized the meeting and thus became known as the mother of the Task Force.

KCTFHR Executive Committee Christie Wood, president Jody Hillenbrand, vice-president Ellen Stamsos, treasurer Tony Stewart, secretary Phone: 208-765-3932 Newsletter Editor: Gayle Hughes

Website: www.idahohumanrights.org The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is a non-profit 501 (C)3 human rights organization

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Make incivility a laughing matter Tony Stewart is probably the most optimistic person you'll ever meet. But at the moment. even Tony is wavering. The tribal nature of current society and politics worries him. He's seeing anger in what should be civil discussions. When people disagree these days, they often make it personal. And mean. If you've been in North Idaho for more than a few months. you know Tony's background and without sounding too melodramatic, his heroism. After all, when Tony and

Opinion a group of locals doggedly opposed the hate of neo-Nazi Richard Butler and his Aryan Nations for more than two decades. it wasn't all just harsh words. There were bombs, harassment. murders. Yet Tony and what would eventually become the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations prevailed. both by being clever and by sticking to the non-confrontational methods of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They bankrupted Butler with a lawsuit, and went on to help

craft Idaho's "hate laws" which are among the toughest in the nation. Tony Stewart has every reason to feel like a winner in his battle with the forces of intolerance. Some of his quotes, from years of TV shows, lectures, 40 years teaching political science at NIC, public appearances. town halls and so on, are now

repeated over and over. In 2010, Tony was interviewed by PBS producer Marcia Franklin and made a remarkable statement. "Since I was very young (In North Carolina), I've always been so bothered by injustices of all types," he said. See CAMERON, C3

someone is just bitter and angry, you actually leave with a knot in your from C1 stomach. "The human "As a young boy body wasn't meant to be unhappy and - 9 and 10 years old confrontational all the - I was writing to my congressman asking him time. It's unhealthy for society in every way." to vote for civil rights But how did we get legislation, which he here? would not do." Tony cites social GIVEN THAT lifelong media as a problem, and reluctance to stay silent one part of it especially. in difficult times, it's "It allows arguments probably not surprising to take place where you that Tony now wants to can remain anonymous," he said. "I believe a lot speak out over the way of things are said, and America has lost its terrible rumors spread, civility. by people who wouldn't "It's very, very do it if their name made concerning," he said. them responsible for it." "It's pe1fectly proper He also feels many and part of democracy public figures are not to have an opinion, to always acting as role disagree with someone - but we've come to see models, and thus even children are beginning to these conversations as snap at each other with a more like attacks. new sort of meanness. "Truthfully, it's not They're hearing nasty only bad for all of us words from adults, and psychologically, but physically. If you're in sadly learning to copy them. a group of people and

CAMERON

However ... If anyone might know

the pathway out of this acrimonious life we seem to be enduring, it's Tony Stewart. So? "Somehow, our country and others have been losing their sense of humor," he said. "And the truth is that you can't feel angry toward someone if you can share a joke. It will always break any tension. "We need to rediscover the humor in our lives, and not be afraid to share it. "It's as simple as that." Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week. Steve's sports column runs on Tuesday. Email: scameron@ cdapress.com. Twitter:@ BrandNewDayCDA

The Press, Saturday, July 14, 2018

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THE WEST: Flooding cancels trips to Arizona waterfalls / C4

Stewart hits homer on humor I'm thrilled. Beyond all expectations, really. You can imagine, I'm sure, that readers respond to most of these columns. Sometimes there are just a couple of emails, but once in a while some subject really hits home and the messages come flowing in. But this, this reaction to the thoughts of Tony Stewart on civility in America, truly rocked me. In the neatest way possible.

Opinion I'm looking at more firstday-reaction emails than at any time except maybe the beginning of our "favorite song" poll. It's amazing how many people were moved enough by the subject of how we treat each other - plus Tony's perception of both the reasons and a solution. Something really has to grab your attention if you're going to sit down and write an email to a newspaper columnist you

-~路BirlNn:Ni\tnav with Steve Ca,nero路路路 --------

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never met. ONE WOMAN'S message Not only that, but several made me laugh ... of the comments I received "I'm sorry, but I have to ask came early in the morning, and many from cellphones. Tony's forgiveness," she wrote, It felt as though people read "because he worries about Tony's opinions first thing on Thursday, and decided to See CAMERON, CS comment immediately.

CAMERON from C1

anonymous opinions on social media, and today I need to stay anonymous. The article in the paper immediately made me think of my boss, so I can't use my name and still keep my job. "I had to write, though, because this guy is always aggressive and a bit unpleasan,t, even when he's not really mad about your work. It's like he's angry at the world all the time, or having to work where we do. "I don't know, but if my boss just kept the Golden Rule in mind, we would have a much better place to work." MADAM, I'm going

to speak for Tony on this one and say you are forgiven. And I'm so glad you (and several other readers) mentioned the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Now wouldn't our everyday lives, and society in general, be a whole lot better if we just kept those few words in mind until eventually they become how we look at everything and everyone? By the way, Tony's notion that the world in general is losing its sense of humor really struck home. I've mentioned it in almost every public appearance I've ever made - and

I've hosted several daily radio shows, so there have been plenty of opportunities. Even our own industry has seen a kind of grimness replacing a loose and enjoyable atmosphere. Newsrooms used to be fun, but now they feel a bit like you've made a trip to the library. SPEAKING of that, a few readers mentioned "Today's Ghastly Groaner" - corny jokes submitted by the public - as one of the neatest things in The Press. A couple of folks said they read that feature first thing, and it starts their days with chuckles. I agree. and so as a bonus with no charge, I'm tossing in a visual "groaner" for your enjoyment. The cartoon was sent along by my

friend and faithful Press reader Tim Kastning. Have a laugh, even if you want to giggle at Tim and me for our weird taste in humor. We don' t mind. As Tony said with so much insight, we can't fight if we keep smiling. I want so much to see that across all of society. Finally, thanks and more thanks to all of you who took the time to comment. Let's keep yom attitude rolling, shall we? Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week. Steve's sports column runs on Tuesday. Email: scameron@ cdapress.com. Twitter:@ BrandNewDayCDA

25 YEARS OF INLANDER

OttoZehm

THE YEAR THAT WAS ... 2006 It's the year that TWlmR was created, the year that Google purchased YOUTUBE for $1.65 billion after having launched only a year before, and it's when MILEY CYRUS debuted in Disney's Hannah Montana. The Flaming Ups, Queens of the Stone Age, the Decemberists and the Shins all played at the SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL. And JADA PINKETT SMITH and her heavy metal band, WICKED WISDOM, played Spokane in February. Staffer Luke Baumgarten wrote of Pinkett Smith: "Angry, indignant, foul-mouthed metallista with a soft spot for murdered children and a penchant for offsetting her smooth, sultry TLC croon with deep metal growls and the occasional De-LaRocha-esque hip-hop cadence."

COMBATTING HATE IN NORTH IDAHO

A nine-part television series on the KOOTENAI COUNTY TASK FORCE ON HUMAN RELATIONS and its role in dismantling the Aryan Nations' compound in North Idaho aired in January. The task force remains intact today, with co-founder Tony Stewart still involved. Their work is as important as ever (see page 20).

DEATH OF OTTO ZEHM Otto Zehm, a mentally disabled janitor, was beaten, hog-tied and shocked with a laser by Spokane police in a Zip Trip. He later died in the hospital. The incident and subsequent cover-up have plagued the department for years. Officer Karl Thompson, who was the first to confront Zehm, served time in federal prison for lying to investigators.

1he August 10, 2006, issue COVER lllUSTRATIOtt CIIAD CROWE

1WAS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT'

So writes Nicholas K. Geranios, a correspondent for the AssociatedPress. Geranios' family came to the U.S. as tourists and just decided to stay, evading attempts by the U.S. government to deport them until a U.S. senator intervened. Geranios writes about street level protests over immigration policy, debates about "sealing the borders, blocking terrorists and protecting U.S. jobs." (Sound familiar?) But the major point of Geranios' piece in the May 4 issue is what he believed was lost in the discussion about immigrants: the people. "Call them risk takers, entrepreneurs, eternal optimists. The point is, they are the people any society - but especially our diverse, capitalistic society needs the most," Geranios wrote.

Racism's Ripples How an assault and a viral video of a Hayden man's racist tirade spread across a church, a community and the country BY MITCH RYALS

t begins innocently enough. with kids and ice cream and church. J ose Ceniceros, the kids' community director for lmmanud Church in West Central Spokane, along with two other volunteers, take a group of five high schoolers to Coeur d'Alene to hear a guest preacher. But the sermon is quickly overshadowed during a pit sLOp for ice cream on the way home. Ceniceros finishes ordering vanilla cones for everyÂˇ one at a Coeur d'Alene McDonald's, and the group rums to leave when a goateed man in a reflective vest begins "railing~ at them. he says.Just as Ceniceros walks out the door. he says. the man. Richard Sovenski, sucker punches him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

20 11UNDE1 JULY 26, 2018

Ceniceros scrambles to his feel. pulls his cell phone out and begins to record. That footage is now a major piece of evidence in the felony hate crime charge against the 52-ycar-old Sovenski, of H ayden, and has gone viral onlinc with media outlets across the country reposting his racist and homophobic tirade. In the 53-second video, Sovcnski calls the teenagers "half breeds" and charges at tl1em. saying "I will f-k you up in a f-k.in' heartbeat, you f-kin' little faggot." A man identified as Sovenski's son, wearing American flag shorts, grabs his genitals. And before turning back into the the restaurant Sovenski yells: "Get the f-k out of Idaho. F-k you, you f-kin' half breeds." Sovenski was arrested five days later and charged with misdemeanor battery and felony malicious harassment. Idaho's hate crime statute. He bonded out soon after and is awaiting

trialAs

"It was like everybody Qot gut punched. This is more than rhetoric that's floating around. It's going on right here."

Ceniccros_an? the t~nagers reflect on the mcident, n's also forced Llleir larger church community to grapple with the footage of Sovenski's actions, another in a recent barrage of viral videos showing hateful, brazen racism in the United States. Ceniceros can't help but wonder if Sovenski would be facing charges were it not for his video. efore Sovenski's arrest, and before Lile video is published online, tl1e victims are left to wallow in fear and confusion. Jasmine Sanchez and her friend, Nicky Brown, arc among the teenagers at the McDonald's that evening.

As Ceniceros drives them home, Sanchez calls her mom. Hope Vasquez, with one question: "What do I dor Vasquez tells born girls not to let Sovenski's words dcfme them. ..It's not knowing different people, and Lile hate in lus hearL." Vasquez. says. "He's got something going on witlun him. Clearly he's angry." Both girls, who are 16, were supposed to go to a family get-together at Hayden Lake Lile following Saturday, mey say, but neither felt much like attending. "Every rime I go to Idaho now, I'm like 'What's go ing to happen next?"' Brown says. "I don't feel the same way when I'm here [in Washington)."

"Like you just always gotta watch over your shoulder now," Sanchez says of how the incident has changed her thinking. On the Sunday following the i.nciclent, Ceniceros recounts the incident for his church congregation at Immanuel. Through tears, Ceniceros tells them "tl1e hardest thing for me to do that night was to get in the van, get t11c kids home, and on the way home join together witl1 tl1em to pray for this guy. Because I'm angry. and I'm upset. Da.mnut these arc kids. No kid deserve~ this.''

...wnJinued on pag, 22

NEWS I HATE CRIME

Niav Brown (left) and Jasmine Sanchez are still shaken weeks after the altercation. ll10f llfAIS M>TO

NEWS

I HATE CRIME

"RACISM'S RIPPLES," CONTINUED..•

distant.

ta! in dismantling the Aryan Nations compound just north of Hayden in 2000. and he's continued that civil rights work ever since. "Every time they appear in court, we'll be with them," Stewart says.

-It was like everybody got gut punched," he says. ~'Dus is more than rhetoric that's floating around. I t's going on right here." For Rodney McAu· ley, the director of church and community Richard Sovenskl engagement for Youth For Christ, where Immanuel holds its services, the altercation was "stirring," though not unusual in his experience with closed-mindedness in the Inland Northwest. Still, both Fairbanks and McAuley speak of reconciliation, of ~striking a balance between Malcolm and Martin," as McAuley puts it. "It breaks my heart to see yet another manifestation of brokenness in our community," McAuley says. -There needs to be accountability, but my wish is there would be a heart change, that the anger and hate, or whatever was trig· gered, would be surfaced and addressed." Going forward, the Kootenai County Task Force on B uman Relations, and its co-founder Tony Stewart, are providing support for the victims. Stewart and the task force were inscrumen·

nee the video was posted online, it didn't take long for the phone calls and messages to start pouring in from local and national media outlets - so many in fact that Fac.ebook temporarily shut down Ceniceros' account, he says. The Inlander, which first published the video July 18, also received messages from media outlets including the Idaho State.sman and 7k fntk. pendml, in the U.K. Viral content farms VrralHog and Storyful, companies that try to gobble up potentially viral videos and resell the license to other outlets, also reached out to inquire about licensing agreements. By Friday, just two days later, more images of bigotry captured across the United States had surfac.ed. It takes Brian Levin, director of the Center for the study of H ate and Extremism at California State University. San Bernardino, several seconds to scroll through his Tivitter feed to find the video of Sovcnsk.i. He scrolls past a video of a white Detroit business owner who spits on a black man; past the photo of the now former Clark County Sheriff's deputy who was fired after posting a photo wearing a sweatshirt with a Proud Boys logo. a group of conservative nationalists; and past the

Rob Fairbanks, the lead pastor at Immanuel, says Ceniceros' speech stunned the crowd. Sud· denly, the viral videos from other pans of the country didn't seem so

video of a white woman telling a mixed race family to "get out of Berkeley." Levin has sn,died hate and bigotry for decades. In the past year, he's noticed a increase in these types of videos, which spread like wildfire on the internet. Specifically, for Levin the flashpoint was the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a protester was killed. Levin sees value in the videos' efficiency at exposing this kind of behavior. But he worries that the quick, breaking news posts might leave out oucial context, such as the mental capacity of those involved. And the knee-jerk reaction to publicly shame individuals may destroy an opportunity to reverse hateful thinking. "Shaming is not the same as rehabilitating," he says. "I think that we have to look to experts to solve the polarization in this country, who go beyond the first steps of impulsive shaming into something more holistic." Statistically, Levin's analysis of police data shows that hate crimes in the 10 largest U.S. cities increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2017. The 12 percent incrcasc, a total of 1,038 hate crimes, is the highest in more than a decade. Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. David Hagar says only three hate crimes were reported to the CPD in 2017.

eniccros' video ends with Sovenski walking back into the McDonald's, but the berating didn't stop there. Brown and Sanchez, the high schoolers presÂˇ cnt that evening. say that Sovenski's wife came

out into the parking lot after the altercation and called them "whores" and "tramps." The woman later tells police that the kids were "being rude; dancing and running around causing a disturbance" in LETTERS the restaurant, Send comments to according to a editor a.inlander.com. police repon. She'd recently had surgery, she tells the officer, and she was afraid the kids would bump into her and knock her over. Brown, who is biracial, and Sanchez, who is Hispanic, don't deny that they were dancing and acting silly, but they ask why, if the woman feared for her safety, she came out to the parking lot to call them names. Ceniceros, Sanchez and Brown arc heartened that Sovenski is charged with a crime, but they question why it took police five days to make an arrest. Hagar, the Coeur d'Alene Police captain, says that time frame is relatively quick for these types of cases. "If people of two different races get into a fight, it's hard to show what the motivation was:' Hagar says. "In a case like this, where we have footage, it's much easier to prove." Even as the case moves forward, the words still sting. "It's like, hurtful hearing those things," Brown says. "God made me this way. It just, like, hurtS." â&#x20AC;˘

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Thursday July 19, 2018

Hayden man charged with hate crime By MAUREEN DOLAN

Staff Writer COEUR d' ALENE

Hayden man accused of yelling racial slurs at members of a Spokane youth group last week in Coeur d'Alene is now charged with misdemeanor battery and felony malicious harassment. Richard Sovenski. 52. was arrested Tuesday and charged Sovenskl Wednesday in Coeur d'Alene's First District Magistrate Court. Malicious harassment is Idaho's hate crime statute that outlaws intimidation or harassment of an See H ATE, AS

HATE from A1

individual because of that person's race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin. The charges against Sovenski stem from a July 12 incident at the McDonald's on Hanley Avenue and U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene. Police responded to a call that there was a large fight at the fast food restaurant. When officers arrived at the scene, there was no fight, but there was an adult victim who had about a dozen teens from a church group with him. The victim, whose name was not released by police, told the officers he had gotten into an argument with Sovenski inside the restaurant. He said they went outside and Sovenski pushed him to the ground and punched him. Sovenski was no longer at the scene when police arrived. Chris Morse, of Coeur d'Alene, was one Qf several people who witnessed the incident. He was in his vehicle, he said, preparing to go through the drivethrough lane, when he saw a man push someone outside. "He was yelling profanities. It really, to me, was disgusting to bear what he was saying. It made me feel bad for the kids," Morse said. "They were just high schoolers, young kids." Morse said you could see teens were with a vehicle from Washington and that they were part of a youth group. He said the man called one

Photo courtesy of Chris Morse

Police question witnesses outside the McDonald's restaurant on Hanley Avenue in Coeur d'Alene on July 12 after an Incident that led to the July 17 arrest of Richard Sovenskl, of Hayden, who Is charged with battery and malicious harassment

of them "a faggot" and called them "half-breeds" and "nigger." "He said 'Get out of Idaho,"' Morse said. "The words I heard come out of his mouth were complete ignorance." A woman who was reportedly with Sovenski in the McDonald's told police the youngsters with the victim were being rude, dancing and causing a disturbance at the restaurant. According to the police report, the woman acknowledged there was an argument between Sovenski and the victim, but said it was only verbal. The police report

states an officer spoke to several witnesses who confirmed the victim's statements. Officers attempted to contact Sovenski that night, but reported that he would not return their calls. Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. Dave Hagar said the arrest was made after detectives completed their investigation. Sovenski is scheduled to appear in court again in early September for the battery charge. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for July 27 and July 31 for the malicious harassment charge.

The Press, Friday, August 3, 2018

Cd'Aschools superintendent: 'We must do better' We failed. On behalf of Coeur d'Alene Public Schools, I would like to apologize for the circumstances surrounding the district's mishandling of the vandalism that occurred in early June at Lake City High School. This repugnant act of disregard, disrespect, and spreading of hate language Cook was completely unacceptable, and we continue to investigate

Opinion it to see if we can fmd the individual(s) that perpetrated this act and hold them accountable. However, the manner in which we, as a school district, responded to this situation was not up to anyone's standard, including mine. Vandalism such as this needs to be reported to district officials and law enforcement as soon as it's discovered,

and then removed as quickly as possible. Discovering that there was a failure to immediately take these actions over the summer is deeply disappointing. We have identified several areas to improve. A thorough â&#x20AC;˘ and complete investigation of this event bas now taken place and we have learned of several opportunities in which we can do better. We are addressing our internal failures by clarifying expectations of staff responsible for investigations and by building common

processes for internal and external reporting of incidents. We will provide training for staff and students to emphasize a culture of empathy and understanding for others and fostering an emotional sense of well-being for all students. In addition, we will analyze and review our curriculum to determine if gaps exist in areas of human rights, tolerance and hate speech. We must do better. We will See COOK, C3

The Press

COOK from C1

do better for our constituents who trust us every day with their most valuable and precious assets, their children. We will do better for our staff and teachers who work endless hours to provide a rich, deep, and well-rounded educational experience for our kids. We will do better for members of our citizenry who have worked tirelessly to rid this amazing community of any and all remnants of tolerance for hate

North Idaho

How to help â&#x20AC;˘ If you want to be a part of this cause, please contact Coeur d'Alene Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook directly at scook@ cdaschools.org.

speech and hate groups. Most importantly, we will do better for our students, who grow and benefit from us being highly effective moral and ethical exemplars during the most formative years of their lives. We are committed to the

improvement of this district and see this as an opportunity to have a larger impact. We want to reframe the conversation around hate and intolerance and create a culture of kindness, empathy, and acceptance. Please join us in this conversation. Together we can create a better tomorrow for our kids and community. If you want to be a part of this cause, please contact me directly at scooku, cdaschools. org. Sincerely, Dr. Steven Cook Superintendent of Schools Coeur d'Alene

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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p1n1 n NEW SUPER: Well done, sir To Dr. Steven Cook: On behalf of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Board of Directors, we express our appreciation gratitude and support of ' your outstanding statement in the Aug. 3 Coeur d'Alene Press that you sent to all the parents and employees of the Coeur d'Alene School District plus to the wider community. Your eloquent and sincere letter should be embraced by us all as you acknowledged and apologized for the circumstances surrounding the district's mishandling of the vandalism that occurred in early June that included a deplorable message of hate. Not only did you have the integrity to accept responsibility for the error, but you have committed the Coew· d'Alene School District to the most constructive and meaningful steps in moving forward - including working with law enforcement to investigate the incident; changes to the district's chain

of command in reporting such future incidents; a clear and strong statement/position condemning hate speech or hate crimes and a zero tolerance for such acts; review of your curriculum that will enhance the understanding and appreciation of human rights, tolerance, and the need to teach the moral, ethical and legal requirements that each person has the right to respect and dignity; create a culture of kindness, empathy and acceptance; and additional training for teachers and staff around this noble cause. Ow· organization has worked for more than 37 years not only in this region but across America championing these moral and ethical precepts. When this issue arose several days ago, we received a call from your staff r equesting input from us, plus we are so pleased that a meeting has been scheduled later this month with you and your key administrators with us for further discussion. We stand by to assist in anyway you think helpful. CHRISTIE WOOD President TONY STEWART Secretary Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations /

The Press, Friday, August 10, 2018

SECTION

Idaho no haven for haters It becomes so tiring. A friend calls from someplace out there Colorado. the Carolinas, Illinois, Kansas, wherever. I can hear the chuckling over the phone. Finally, the question: "So how are you doing, way up there with all those Nazis?" Sigh ... I guess it may take decades for the Coeur

Law Center bankrupt Butler in 2000, and the hatemonger died four years later. d'Alene-Hayden Lake So it's been almost area to be rid of that two decades since Butler awful scar. and his ragtag gang of For now, anyway, racist idiots were run the memory of Richard out of Kootenai County Butler and the Aryan on the heels of a $6.3 Nations sticks with million court judgment, people who don't really and yet ... know North Idaho. Plenty of supposedly That stigma has intelligent people survived quite a while, actually think I'm too. living in a place where The local Human shoppers are routinely Rights Task Force helped surrounded by skinheads the Southern Poverty in the grocery store.

Opinion

Lee White gets it, though. The Coeur d'Alene police chief recalls telling his dad about testing for this job, and then being hired. His father, also named Lee, immediately jumped to the Aryan Nations connection. "He worked intelligence for the police department in Mesa, Ariz., and he

actually made a trip up here during the Butler years," the junior White said. "You just mention this place, and that bad memory seems to be right there." Chief White, though, is proud to say that the area - despite necessary and constant vigilance - is on the road to conquering hate. See CAMERON, C3

CAMERON from C1

"The last year for which we have full records is 2016," White said, "and there were just five arrests for hate crimes in Coeur d'Alene. "That doesn't mean we aren't watching to see if some of these characters show up again. There are a few around, but we won't let anything illegal get started." THIS CHAT with White occurred because there were a couple of ugly incidents in July. According to police reports, some racist moron verbally abused a Spokane youth group at a local McDonald's, calling the kids "halfbreeds" and telling them to "get out of Idaho." And then a high school prank went way too far, as a swastika

appeared on the Lake City High football field - along with some other disgusting artwork. "Because of the swastika, we're investigating that incident as a hate crime," White said. Likewise, the cretin who terrorized the kids and their director at McDonald's has been charged under Idaho's "hate laws" - even though none of the victims suffered physical damage. "It's ironic that Butler and those neo-Nazis did leave a legacy here," White said. "With the work put in by the community and the legislature, we have a set of statutes that allow us to stop hate-related events - and arrest whoever is involved." You know, it doesn't really matter that a few •·•

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of my friends - who've never even been here connect the area with the Aryan Nations. They'd probably be surprised to learn that Idaho has some of the toughest hate crime laws in the nation. I'm sure they'd be shocked to see that idiot at McDonald's use a bit of racist language, then quickly find himself cuffed and headed straight to jail. If they saw that, I would say... "Hey. THIS is where I live!" Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week. Steve's sports column runs on Tuesday. Email: scameron@ cdapress.com; Twitter:@ BrandNewDayCDA

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Once again hate-filled rhetoric has soiled the beauty of North Idaho. Sandpoint residents were recently subjects of a robocall decrying Jewish folk and others. The originator is a failed California senatorial candidate, denounced by the Republican party there. with plans to establish a "regional capital" in Sandpoint. Please reference the article in the SpokesmanReview, Aug. 5 issue: "In robocalls featuring 'Friends' theme song, California neoNazi Patrick Little says he's coming to Sandpoint." The people of Kootenai County once successfully ousted from our area the white supremacist hate group of Richard Butler. They formed the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights which continues to lead and consults with communities nationwide looking for constructive, effective ways to confront hate. The group pressed successfully for Idaho laws to punish hate crimes and set an example of standing up for human rights for the whole country. We need to speak out again to let others know we do not condone in any way such hateful speech, lest speech turn into actions against our fellow friends, neighbors and families. We call upon all candidates of every party and curren l legislators and other public officials to publicly condemn hateful speech in any form. SHEM HANKS Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee

Spokane, Washington

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EXPOSING HATE

BATTLING RACISM, ONE CONVERSATION AT ATIME Kristine Hoover found her life's work exploring hatred

SHAWN VESTAL SPOKESMAN COLUMNIST

In 11th grade, living in a predominantly white Ohio town, Kristine Hoover was assigned to interview an adult about their career. She chose an African-American man who worked as a nurse. "He told me heartbreaking stories about a small, rural community, where people would cross the street and not pass him," Hoover said. "He would have to explain to his young daughter why that happened." That interview made a powerful impression, she said. Putting herself in the shoes of that little girl, she connected to the experience in a vivid way. A personal way. Now, as the director of Gonzaga's Institute for Hate Studies, she's leading an effort to interrogate and better understand racism and hatred - what makes people cross that street, how does such hatred play out in society and in the Northwest, and what we can do to fight it "My goal is for us to understand the complexity of addressing hate in living together," Hoover said. The institute is marking its 20th See VESTAL, 10

Flt.E'/I'HE SPOKESMAN-REVlEW

In this 1999 photo, an Aryan Nations parade was rerouted onto Fourth Avenue after protesters blocked Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. IFYOUGO

'RISING OUTOF HATRED' BY ELI SASLOW What: The Northwest Passages Book Club welcomes two Pulitzer Prize-winning authors: Eli Saslow will be in conversation about his new book with Edward Humes. When: 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 Where: The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave.

Info: www.spokesman.com/bookclub

VESTAL Continued from 1

Kristine Hoover, director of Gonzaga University's Institute for Hate Studies, poses for a photo at Gonzaga University.

year in existence; it was the "world's first academic unit devoted to innovating the field of Hate Studies," according to the International Network for Hate Studies. It was formed in 1998, in the wake of racist incidents on campus directed at African-American law students. That was also the year the Aryan Nations held its first parade in downtown Coeur d'Alene, and peoJESSE TINSLEY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. ple all across the Northwest were strugglingwith the newest iteration being done by the institute through the institute - which was then of the region's history as a haven for the journal is trying to bridge be- called the Institute for Action tween everyday conversations and Against Hate. He's now working white supremacists. with Gonzaga on efforts to create Twenty years later, the names academic research," he said. the digital archive chronicling have changed and the groups are white nationalism across the region Reaching out different, but the underlying challenge remains. Emboldened white For Hoover, that connection to and beyond. That includes case studies that supremacists, white nationalists the wider community is crucial and members of the alt-right, unit- through research and support for Stewart has gathered in communied and inflamed by social media, people working against hatred, and ties that have taken steps to resist feel more welcome now in the pub- through fostering conversations in racism. He and othershelpedestablie square. Hate crime reports have which people can discuss difficult lish a model for community resistance in Coeur d'Alene, based on two spiked in thepasttwoyears, accord- issues in respectful ways. ing to FBI statistics. She came to Gonzaga from Bowl- simple principles: 1) Never stay siAnd we in the Northwest have ing Green University in 2009, and lent in the face of public displays of our sorry piece of it - with a new- she teaches in the master's program racism 2) Respond without concomer inSandpointsendingoutan- in organizational leadership. She frontation, usually by hosting an ti-black and anti-Semitic robocalls, was named the director of the Hate alternative event. "Beyond that, each community and a prominent young alt-right StudiesCenterin2016-evenaspolwhite nationalist trying to wreak itical rhetoric on racial subjects was does it its own way," Stewart said. Such tactics can be useful for stuhavoc in the local GOP, and a rise in becoming more divisive and actual hit-and-run, anonymous distri- hate crime reports were on the rise. dents as well as for peop!e working The institute is not an activist or- in other organizations throughout bution ofstickers, flyers and graffiti. The institute is responding. ganization, but it works to provide the community to ask themselves, Hoover and her colleagues host education and support for non- ''What would you do in your com. conferences, have developed new profits and others in the community?" he said. Hoover said such community enways of teaching about hate across munity, as well as partnering with different disciplines and are build- human-rights groups. In December gagement will grow as a focus of the ingadigitalresearcharchivechron- 2016, in response to community institute, whether through the aricling white nationalism and par- concerns about a spike in hate chive or community-based reticularly the rise and fall of the crimes - including the defacement search or its next major conference. Aryan Nations in North Idaho. of the Martin Luther King Family On April 2-4, Gonzaga hosts "BuildThey also publish the Journal of Outreach Center - the institute ing Peace Through Kindness, DiaHate Studies. joined with the Spokane County log and Forgiveness," the fifth anThe journal's upcoming issue HumanRightsTaskForceandSpo- nual international conference on thisfallfocusesontheresurgenceof kaneFAVS to host a forum focused hate studies. "We exist for a purpose - to make hate crimes and divisive rhetoric in on fighting bigotry and hatred. the 2016 election. The journal In 2017, it worked with two re- a difference, to have an impact in draws papers and guest editors gional human rights task forces in the community," she said. from universities around the coun- hosting the International ConferOngoing commitment try. One of the guest editors for the ence on Hate Studies, which inupcomingissue isDavid J. Leonard, eluded events targeted at people in The recent resurgence in racial a professor in the Department of the community outside academia divisions has leftmanywith a sense Critical Culture, Gender and Race "I came away with a greater of despair and fury. Where is there Studies at Washington State Uni- understanding of some of the local hope that fighting hatred - in unversity. history, and I think that was help- iversities or on the streets - can "Academic work is seen as de- ful." saidDeanLynch,aformerSpo- work? tached, as distant," Leonard said. kane City councilman and the head For Hoover, the hope comes "But clearly, in our current mo- of the Spokane County Human from the many people she works ment, a special issue on the 2016 Rights Task Force. "The institute with who are engaged in the fight, election -we're right in the midst of has really started reaching out and and from the faith in trying to foster it." becoming more involved with the important but difficult converHe said the journal, and the insti- community." sations among people who differ. tute's overall work, is an attempt to Hoover also said that opponents Tony Stewart, a founder of the connectwith the larger community, Kootenai County Task Force on of racism have a responsibility to in developing understanding and Human Relations and a regional engage and listen, even if the imfostering communication. force against racism, was one of the pulse is to shout and denigrate. "All the work I do and the work speakers at the first event hosted by ushould I hate the hater, and is

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If you go THE GONZAGA INSTITUTE FOR HATE STUDIES TURNS 20 What: A live-streamed keynote speaker, Nadine Strossen, the author of "HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, not Censorship," will be followed by a panel discussion. When: From 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 12 Where: Gonzaga University's Hemmingson Ballroom. 502 E. Boone Ave. Info: gonzaga.edu/academics/centers-institutes/ institute-for-hate-studies WHY PEOPLE HATE, SUGGESTED READINGS We asked Kristine Hoover, director of the Institute for Hate Studies, for suggestions after readers finish "Rising Out of Hatred," by Eli Saslow. She recommended three books she says "provide information and po,ignant stories about how we can choose to respond to hate and support human rights." • "HATE: Why We Should Resist with Free Speech, Not Censorship," by Nadine Strossen • "The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity," by Sally Kohn • "Banished: Surviving My Years In the Westboro Baptist Church," by Lauren Drain with Lisa Pulitzer.

there some hypocrisy in that?" she said. "That's an important question to ask. How can I have my best impact?"

Lynch agreed. "Success for me is when we have a marked, clear improvement in the willingness to listen and learn from each other, and to acknowledge we're all different people and we all have different perspectives," he said That includes, he said, being slower to denounce. "Every time someone disagrees with you, you don't have to presume they're racist or homophobic or Islamophobic or whatever it is," he said. She tells the story of Megan Phelps-Roper, who was raised by the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps, before turning away from it The Kansas-based group has made a notorious name for itself with inflammatory hate speech and its anti-gay demonstrations at military funerals. The group made a controversial appearance in Spokane in 2010. "She was an example ofsomeone who was completely acculturated (m a hateful movement) and she crune to see the world and human relationships in an entirely different way," Hoover said "People responded to her with kindness and love, and eventually, she actually married one of those people." A similar example is found in the new book "Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist.," written by Portland author and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Eli Sas-

low. Saslow's book details the story of Derek Black, who was raised among some of the key figures in American white supremacy and had become a voice of white nationalism before repudiating those ideas. A key element of Black's change of heart came after attending regular Shabbat dinners to which he was invited by an Orthodox Jew at· his college. He made friends at those dinners, and those friendships began to influence him away from the beliefs he had grown up with. Saslow comes to Spokane on Monday to discuss "Rising Out Hatred" with The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages Book Club. JustasHooverwas influenced by the stories of people refusing to share a path with an African-American, she said she also was influenced by a tradition on her grandparents' dairy fann: the regular meal shared among people from all backgrounds who worked there. "On Sundays, we would stretch the dining room table out from the kitchen to the living room, and we'd get out every chair in the house and have Sunday dinner," she said Sunday after Sunday - a metaphor for how conversations across differences must be joined in a personal way. "It's an ongoing commitment," she said. "We can't become complacent" CONTACTTHEWRrTER:

(509)459-5431 shawnv@sPokesman.com

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ROBOCALL RANCOR. Internet phone calling technology enables anonymous, automated messages of hate By Chad Sokol

MOR.EON RACIST ROBOCAlLS

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

By now, most people have probably noticed a surge in the number of robocalls ringingtheir phones those irritating prerecorded messtnat arrive, unsolicited, to ta product, scam people out or promote a political

Fl6HTIN6 'RIDICULOUSNESS' WITH 'RIDICULOUSNESS' A Virginia man is assembling an army of accordionplaying clowns to let a Sandpoint man know how annoying, unwanted noises feel. NEWS,9

ROBOCALLS Continued from 1

power.com" - a video podcasting site where Rhodes spews additional racist .vit-

riol Some of those calls have promoted political candidates, including John Fitzgerald and Patrick Little, Holocaust deniers in California who lost congressional races by large margins this year. One call mocked Andrew Gillum. Florida's black Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Another of Rhodes' messages rang phones in Spokane and defended a local transit official who was accused of making racist remarks on Facebook. Yet another railed against the Hispanic community-in Iowa after the murder of college student Mollie Tibbetts. Yet another appeared in Charlottesville, Vuginia, calling for the deportation of black people to Africa. In a moment when social media companies and internet service providers are under pressure to ban or "deplatform" users who repeatedly and deliberately spread hate and misinformation, robocalls appear to be one of few remaining low-cost communication tools for people like Rhodes. "It costs him very little to send out messages of hate, and so that's the preferred choice," said Christie Wood, the president of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, which played a critical role in dissolving the Aryan Nations in the 1990s. "When you look at the cost ofprintingthe pamphlets that they've done in the past, I guess this is the most cost-effective mode," Woods said "But it's intrusive. It's alarming. The people who get the calls are disgusted by it. So I really don't see how he thinks he's making any inroads. It's a mystery to me that he thinks it's effective.'! Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in l99l, hoping to put an end to spam phone calls, but advancements in technology have left regulators scrambling for ways to enforce the law. Voice over internet protocol, or VoIP, enabled users of

companies also hostrobocalls - often for legal, legitimate purposes - for as little as a penny per call Another problem is the ease with which spammers can "spoof' phone numbers that is, change the numbers associated with incoming robocalls so they appear to

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come from trusted contacts, even neighbors with the same area codes and prefixes. There are many legitimate uses for spoofing, however. A doctor's office, for example, may want to call patients to remindthemofupcoming!lpSee ROBOCALLS, n

SEPTEMBER 23 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY â&#x20AC;˘ NEWS l1

OM THE FRONT PAGE

ROBOCALLS Continued from 9

pointments, while always showing recipients the same phone number and not a specific

extension.

That

means the technology isn't likely to go away. Despiti? the creation of a National Do Not Call Registry, the number of illegal robocalls and telemarketing calls has skyroclcered in recent years. State regulators have limited power to address the issue. In an email, Kare Griffith, a spokeswoman for the Washington state Utilities and Transportation Commission, said the agency's robocall rule "only applies to landline calls, not VoIP or cell phones. As well, it only covers in-state calls, meaning a call originating in Idaho is not under the jurisdiction of this rule." That leaves the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, which assembled an "Industry Robocall Strike Force" in 2016. One company, Transaction Network Services, works with cell carriers to analyze massive amounts of call data in real time, quickly identifying robocall activity by examining certain markers associated with each number.

Lavinia Kennedy, senior product manager for the company's Call Guardian service, said an algorithmsingles out invalid and unallocated phone nwnbers, numbers that have never been used before and numbers labeled "do not originate'' - for example, a 1-800 number that accepts but does not send out calls. TNS relays this information to cell carriers,

which, underanFCC rule approvedlastyear, may block or flag the calls before they reach consumers' phones. "The question is noW: Are carriers doing that?" Kennedy said "And it's really up to the carrier. The rule doesn't say you must block. It says you can block." The telecom industry is also working feverishly to develop a more sophisticated technology, known by the acronym STIR/SHAKEN, that would assign each phone a digicil certificate to assure people calls are coming from the numbers they claim to be coming from. This system, still years from being widely implemented, mirrors technology long used to authenticate emails and websites. In the meantime, Jim Tyrrell, senior director of prod-

"As we near the midti?nns, illegitimate and illegal political robocalling are going to increase and there's probably some steps that voters could take to avoid falling victim," Tyrrell said, noting that some malicious robocalls have given people incorrect voting locations. ''They should double-check where they're supposed to vore and not give any personal information over the phone." Alex Quilici, the founder and chief executive of YouMail, a California company that develops a popular robocall-blocking app, analyzed messages linked to Scott Rhodes using "audio fingerprinting" technology. He said Rhodes appeared to be responsible for about 10,000 robocalls across the country. That's a far cry from the 350,000 messages Rhodes once claimed to have sent to California Still, his robocalls have made headlines and disturbed residents everywhere they have appeared. "Fortunarely, all of our users who got one pretty much reported it as spam and said something like 'racist jerk' or 'What is this nonsense?' " Quilici said "So that made me feel good about hu-

uct marketing for Trans- manity."

action Network Services, said people may want to brace for even more robocalls in the coming weeks.

COtffACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-504 7

chadso:aspol<esman com

Virginia man'sresponse to racism: Send inthe clowns -rAe

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Plans call for ;mall army of accordionists By Chad Sokol TR£ SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A Virginia man says he's sembling a small army of :cordion-playing clowns fight hate in North Ida>. Justin Beights has ,ught a permit to stage a bimsical, extremely an>ying demonstration outie the Sandpoint-area >me rented by Scott D. 11odes - a man who ap!ars to be responsible for nding racist, anti-Semitrobocalls to thousands of 1ones across the country. Some of those calls ap:ared in Charlottesville, irginia, where Beights orks as an entrepreneur 1d real estate developer, 1ortly after the Unite the igbt II rally in mid-Auist.

In a phone call, Beights, l, said he was stirred to

:tion after the first Unite 1e Right event a little ore than a year ago, here a self-described rast plowed his car into a ·owd of protesters, killing 1e and injuring dozens of hers. In ail attempt to ock the sequel event om happening, Beights >plied for his own permit hold an event on the me day in the same pub: square. He planned to ill it the "Festival of the

:hmestival." "We were going to have ::elebrity dunk tank, and a raffe, and a Huey Lewis 1d the News tnoute band ed up for it," Beights said. t was just going to be a n, ridiculous event that e were trying to hold in ace of a bunch of white 1premacists with tiki rches coming into our

wn again."

But the festival did not 1ppen. Beights said the

F1U,'TBE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

On behalf of the Fox televlslon show "TV Nation," members of the Class Acts Dance Academy, from Spokane, dance to the supremes hit "Stop! In the Name of Love" outside the Aryan Nations compound In Hayden on July 21, 1995.

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city-of Charlottesville cited public- safety in denying him a permit. Unite the Right II didn't happen in Charlottesville, either. It was moved to Washington, D.C. Only about 30 people took part in that white nationalist demonstration, while thousands of others participated in nearby counterprotests. Nonetheless, Beights has persisted. He said he recently established a nonprofit, also called Festival of the Schmestival, through which he plans to "troll" white supremacists across the country. 'Tm looking at doing. some robocalls of my own that I think others will enjoy," be said. "And then we're keeping an eye on things that are happening down in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, because there's sonie tension about some Confederate statues down there that I don't think are being handled the right way.n He came up with the idea to bombard Rhodes' house with a cacophony of accordion sounds after Rhodes sent a flurry of robocalls to Charlottesville tast month.

The prerecorded messi.ges spoke of black people n deeply offensive terms md called for deportations :o Africa Like all of Uiodes' robocalls, they :losed with a disclaimer hat they were "paid for by heroadtopower.com" - a ideo podcasting site vhere he spews additional acist vitriol While thodes has expressed conempt for journalists who oint out the source of the obocalls, he has not exlicitly denied he's behind J.em. "He targeted my home>wn, so I said OK, if he rants to use his First mendment rights to >read his ridiculousness, 1en I'll use my First mendment rights to >read my own·ridiculous~ss," Beights said. "And >u know what, why not > it in front of his house r as long as possible? Be.use if he's going to torent my friends and :ighbors and their homes td businesses with his Jpid (expletive) ... If he mts to get into a stupid

JUSTIN BE.IGHTS

Justin Belghts, of

Charlottesville, Virginia, says he's assembling a

small anny of

accordion-playing clowns to fight hate In North Idaho. (expletive) competition, r n win that every day." Beigbts said he first contacted the city ofSandpoint for a demonstration permit, then the neighboring city of Dover, which told him Rhodes' house is actually in unincorporated Bonner County, where he won't need a permit if the demonstration includes fewer than 400 people. However, Halee Sabourin, with the county's planning department, noted there are also laws against trespassing and harassment, as well as an ordinance that allows residents to file formal complaints when noises at their property lines exceed 60 deci-

bels.

"That's about the level of a normal conversation,n Sabourin said. Beights said the date of the event is a "moving target," and he's reached out to the World Clown Association and other groups to help make it happen. The goal, he said, is to strip racists of the pretense that their ideologies should be taken seriously. Âˇ "I want to help people realize that these guys are not worth our time unless we're spending time having fun at their expense," he said.

Beights' plan, first reported by the Bonner County Daily Bee, reminded Brenda Hammond, the president of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, of the time in 1995 when satirist Michael Moore brought a hiredfor-television chorus line of young women to sing "Stop! In the Name of Love" outside the Aryan Nations compound in Hayden. According to a Spokesman-Review article from the time, the racially diverse 12-member dance troupe was joined by an actor dressed as a rabbi and a clown handing out heartshaped red balloons. A similar tactic might help to silence Rhodes, a 49-year-old California transplant who enthusiastically declares in his videos that he's broadcasting from "very white, very racist North Idaho." Regardless of whether the clowns actually come to Sandpoint, Hammond said, it's a good plan to "fight hate with love.n "Our task force has been dealing with a variety of flavors of hate groups for decades," she said. "We've tried to send the message for 20 years that this is not a place to grow hate. It's not a fertile place for that kind of ideology, and we've proven that over the years. A lot of groups have come and left." Beights' plans have made headlines before, and many have assumed he's an experienced accordion player who would force racists to face the music. Speaking to The Spokesman-Review, he sought to correct the record. "I never said that I played the accordion," he said. But his father-in-law plays the instrument, as does one of his sons. "I'm an accordion owner, and so I know how to press the buttons and things like that. But I just think it's a classically hilarious instrument," he said. "And I can't think of a better instrument to play

oeuer lDStrUment to play across from Scott Rhodes' houseÂˇto-show him howitfeels when the phone starts ringing and there's a robot on the other end" CONTACT TIE WRITER:

(50j) 459-5047 ~p0kesman.com

Racism case set for trial

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Man accused of yelling slurs at church group at McDonald's

By RALPH BAATHOLDT

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three-day jury trial has been set for a Hayden man accused of yelling racial slurs at a Spokane church group. First District Judge Scott Wayman scheduled a trial to begin Dec. 18 for Richard Sovenski, who along with his son Sovenskl allegedly harassed a youth leader and about a dozen teens from a church group at a Coeur d'Alene McDonald's. Sovenski, who was indicted based on witness reports, has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge and to felony malicious harassment stemming from the July 12 incident. Wayman joined both counts into one case although the charge~ were filed separately. Quezacoatl Ceniceros the youth leader who ' accused Sovenski, said ~e Hayden man pushed him to the ground and punched him outside the restaurant along U.S. 95 and Hanley A venue. Ceniceros said Sovenski and another man - Sovenski's son Bryce - yelled slurs Âˇ See TRIAL, A1o

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including "nigger," "fags," and "hal.fbreeds" before leaving t he area. Sovenski's wife, Colleen, had a different version of the events. She told police she was in the McDonald's trying to order food among the rowdy teens

and worried that one of the teens would run into her, hurting her shoulder and her arm, which was in a sling after a recent surgery. Her husband told the youths to settle down before Sovenski and Ceniceros began arguing, she said. Police attempted to contact Sovenski after the incident, but he would not answer his

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zIll phone. He was indicted and arrested five days later. Sovenski admitted yelling slurs at the group, according to a police report, and he told detectives that members of the group had spit ice cream all over his car. Malicious harassment is punishable by up to five year s in prison and a $5,000 fine.

October 30, 2018

Rabbi Tamar Molino Temple Beth Shalom 1322 E 30th Ave Spokane, WA 99203

Dear Rabbi Tamar Molino, It is with severe sadness deep in our hearts that we write you this letter. Please relate our condolences to the congregations of Temple Beth Shalom and Congregation Ema nu-el. It is hard to comprehend the horror committed at the Tree of life Synagogue in Pittsburg. It was an attack upon the Jewish people of that community. Its impact is much broader and impacts Jewish people everywhere in our country. We wish for you to know that we fully believe that an attack upon one segment of our society is an attack upon our society as a whole. The lack of tolerance and acceptance in our society seems to be deteriorating while the sheer hatred is exploding. Whether the victims are selected because of their religious beliefs, color of skin, country of origin or any other identifiers including law enforcement is intolerable and must be challenged . As we join you this evening at the vigil honoring the lives lost and lives shattered, please know that our commitment does not end her e. We stand united in our desire to work with you in any capacity possible to address this malaise inflicting our society. Sincerely,

Dean Lynch, President Spokane County Human Rights Task Force

Sherrff Ozzre Knezovich • Dean lynch • Marilee Roloff • Hershel Zellman • Dr Robert J McCarn • Twa-le Abrahamson-Swan • Rev Percy ·Happy Watkins • Francisco ·c1sco· Aguon • Greg Bever • Anna Cutler • Nicole Devon • Dan Dunn • Guillenno Espinosa • James ·JJ" Johnson • Jim Mohr • Gloria Ochoa-Bruck • Lisa Rosier • Paul Schneider • Sima Tarzaban Thorpe. • Martha Lou Wheatley-B1lleter. •

The Press, Friday, November 2, 2018

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ENTERTAINMENT: Opus 4: A Salute to Veterans concert is Sunday / C1 O

back down Last week once again we witnessed horrific acts of violence and murder in the United States that targeted members of the African American and Jewish communities. When will _ _ _ _ we be free OPINION from such hatred, inhumane acts and hate crimes that tear at the fabric ofa modern - ~m society founded upon respect, decency and the principles of equality and justice? Christie On W ood Wednesday, and Tony Oct. 24, a Stewart suspect, l\fy described Turn as a 51-year- - - - old white man with a history of violence, unsuccessfully attempted to enter the First Baptist Church in Jeffersontown Ky., that is headed by ' a black minister with a large African American membership. When unable to enter, he went to a nearby Kroger grocery store, where he is ch8!g~d with shooting and kilhng two African American customers.

Then on Saturday, Oct. 27, a suspect, described as a white man in his 40s who had posted anti-Semitic slurs on a white supremacist social media site, entered the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh and is charged with killing 11 members of the congregation and wounding six individuals, including four police officers. We condemn these barbaric acts in the strongest terms. One would think that two of the safest environments would be in our schools and houses of worship; unfortunately that is no longer the case. During our 38 years as a human rights organization, the No. 1 lesson we have taken away from that experience is when members of bate groups and purveyors of hate spew vile messages of hate directed at minority groups, soon those words turn to acts of violence. We learned that lesson See MY TURN, C4

We urge a review of state and federal hate crime laws on how best from C1 to strengthen those acts; a closer awareness by the average citizen locally during the 20 years of the crime spree to monitor messages of hate and watch by theAryan Nations. for danger signs It is long overdue directed at vulnerable that the good people populations; greater of the United States mental health resources take a hard look at in our communities; constructive measures to counter these vicious working to reverse the growing incivility in assaults on our fellow society; being willing human beings. Here to speak up and be are a few suggestions an ally for a victim of for consideration to intimidation/ violence; counter these threats while we recognize there communicating with are other proposals that law enforcement when you discover have merit.

MY TURN

threats and/ or signs of danger; developing and implementing safer measures for our schools and other public places; and importantly in each community, stand up and speak out for human rights and never remain silent in the face of hate. Our hearts are heavy, aware of the grief born by the victims' families. Wishing for a world free of hate,

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KCTFHR Board Christie Wood, president Tony Stewart, secretary

Friday, November 2, 2018

opÂˇn.ion Editorial

No such thing as an empty threat anymore hief Lee White of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department can almost laugh about the old C days when a kid called in a bomb threat hoping to get out of a final exam, or some bonehead set toilet paper in the bathroom on fire. The chief wasn't laughing Tuesday morning. The days when stupid pranks invariably led to no serious harm done are long gone. Modern times have left a bloody trail of slaughtered children and other innocents. Bombings and school shootings are today terrifying realities. That's why Chief White dispatched a small army of officers Tuesday based on one short phone call to Lake City High School's front desk, when the caller said a gunman was in the parking lot. The threat turned out to be groundless, but who's going to risk lives on even the slightest possibility the call could have merit? There's your conundrum. But there's also hope for at least a partial solution. The problem is that particularly with social media ruling the universe, the means of disseminating threats is broader than ever. Authorities have just one good tool to dissuade people from making threats like Tuesday's, and it's capturing and charging the culprits. That's precisely what appears to have happened Thursday with a student from Lakes Middle School. Hopefully, serious punishment will follow.

With Tuesday's incident, Idaho Code 18-6710 makes a first offense a misdemeanor when someone uses a phone or other device to "annoy, terrify, threaten, intimidate, harass or offend," whether the target is an individual, a business, school or any other entity. A first conviction calls for a sentence in the county jail of not more than one year. But subsequent convictions are felonies punishable by up to five years in the state penitentiary_ When you think about how many important resources are wasted every time a threat is leveled, there's additional danger if police are mobilized in one place when something bad happens elsewhere. Even if the initial threat is bogus, response time in a life-or-death situation farther away could prove lethal. So what can the average person do to make a difference? Here's what: Help nail the perpetrators. These aren't harmless hoaxes; they're acts of terrorism, no matter how the instigators see them. And they should be dealt with as harshly as the law allows. If you have any information about the caller Tuesday or the people behind any other threats, please, contact law enforcement immediately. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department number is 208-769-2397.

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Wednesday December 19, 2018

Hate crime trial begins in Cd'A By RALPH BARTHOLOT Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE

- Richard Sovenski sat quietly next to his attorney Tuesday in First District Court as a video rolled, showing the Hayden 52-year-old screaming at a group of Spokane teenagers Sovenskl last summer outside a McDonald's in Coeur d'Alene. On the first day of his jury trial, Sovenski, who has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery and felony malicious harassment stemming from the July 12 incident, quietly listened to testimony from the teenagers and three adult yo~th lea~~rs. ,

uressect m a brown plaid shirt and slacks, his hair tightly cropped, he seemed composed Tuesday in light of the cellphone video that prosecutors played on a screen. The video showed an angry, puffed up Sovenski wearing a bright yellow, reflective, construction site shirt and baseball cap as he lurched menacingly at the teens, calling them "n....r," "fags," and "halfbreeds." The video was shot by Quezacoatl "Jose" Ceniceros. a leader for Spokane's Youth for Christ, who said he and two other youth leaders had traveled from Spokane with five teens to watch a friend preach at the One Place Church See TRIAL, AB

TRIAL from A1

in Hayden before the incident occurred. On their way home they stopped at the McDonald's at 340 W. Hanley for ice cream. With a cone in one hand and holding the door with his other band, Ceniceros let the teens back outside as they headed to their van parked under the McDonald's sign. "That is when he hit you?" deputy prosecutor Art Verharen asked Ceniceros. "Yes sir," Ceniceros replied. "I had my back turned toward him." Earlier, before the fracas, as Ceniceros ordered ice cream inside the McDonald's, the five teens were standing beside the soda fountain, jazzed up on the ministry they had experienced at One Place, youth leader Jennifer Henninger said. The teens were "Real

excited about Christ ... laughing, singing and dancing," Henninger said. The activity may have riled up Sovenski, who told police he feared for his wife, who recently had surgery and was afraid one of the teens would bump her arm, which was in a sling. As the teens were filing out of the McDonald's, Henninger said she turned to see Sovenski strike Ceniceros, who fell to the ground, rolled, pulled out his cellphone and started filming. "I see the gentleman coming up behind Jose and hitting him to the ground," Henninger told the jury. Sovenski was yelling obscene expletives, calling the group "half breeds" and telling them to "get out of Idaho," she said. "He was actually postured in an aggressive way, leaning forward." The video that jurors saw showed a wild-eyed Sovenski being held back

by his son, Bryce, who is seen on a video trying to block the camera. One of the two men yelled at the teens and youth leaders that he will "f... you up in a f... ing heartbeat." Sovenski was indicted based on witness reports, and arrested five days after the incident. He told police the group of teens had spit ice cream all over his car, according to a police report. Idaho's malicious harassment law makes it illegal to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin. It is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The three-day trial in Coeur d'Alene resumes today at 9 a.m. in the Justice Building. Prosecutors will call two more witnesses before defense attorney Michael Palmer of Coeur d'Alene presents his case.

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A Hayden man who shouted racial slurs at a church group in a Coeur d'Alene McDonald's and shoved a man on the ground was found guilty of battery in an Idaho court on Thursday, according to KHQ. But a Kootenai County jury thr ew out an additional charge of malicious harassment, a hate crime, against Richard A. Sovenski Jr.. On July 12, Sovenski visited the McDonald's at 340 Hanley Ave., where he got into a fight with Quetzalcoatl J . Ceniceros. Sovenski pushed him to the ground, punched him once in the arm and sh outed racial slurs at him and other members of a Spokane church group, according to court docu ments. Sovenski's attorney, Michael Palmer, told KHQ that Sovenski "was at the ragged edge. He h ad a lot of financial problems. His wife was

in a lot of pain. She had just been through her ninth surgery to reconstruct h er shoulder. They didn't know if worker's comp was going to cover things. He was behind in deadlines at work. "He had a few beers. H e just snapped . He didn't certainly get into the altercation because of those peoples' background, race or anything else. What he said I'm sure had to do with that, because that's who was in front of him. But that doesn't amount to a hate crime." The scene was also captured on video. The penalties for battery are up to six months in county jaiL up to $1,000 in fines and two years of prohibition, Palmer told KHQ. Sovenski would have faced up to five years if be had been charged with malicious harassment. KHQ reported that Sovenski will be sentenced within 30 days.

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Friday December 21, 2018

Hate crime verdict: Not guilty By RALPH BARTHOLDT Staff Writer COEUR d' ALENE -

Hayden man accused of a felony hate crime was acquitted by a jury Thursday after sLx hours of deliberation spanning two days. The jury found Richard Sovenski, !l2. not guilty of malicious harassment, but guilty of a misdemeanor charge of battery for an incident last summer in which Sovenski was filmed in a McDonald's parking lot screaming obscenities and slurs at Sovenski teenagers in a church youth groul_:)..

In a three-day trial m Coeur d'Alene this week that included two days of testimony, prosecutors and members of the group painted Sovenski as an unhinged racist whose actions afl1rmed the stereotype of an angry Idaho redneck. Deputy prosecutor Arthur Verharen said Stovenski yelled "n路路路-r." "fags," and "halfbreeds" at the teenagers and their adult supervisors after an exchange in McDonald's that ended up in the parking lot. Because tho church youths were comprised of African American and Hispanic teens. Verharen told the jury no other conclusion was possible except to find Sovenski guilty of the hate crime. 路'That's how you know he had specific intent." Verharen said. "Because See VERDICT, A9

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VERDICT from A1

what he said, and who he said it to." Defense attorney Michael Palmer, however, showed the jury a beleaguered construction foreman who was dealing with family issues including his wife's health - she had just completed her ninth shoulder surgery - as well as on-the-job stress when he stopped for beers before heading to McDonald's after work. It was his first meal after a 13-hour work day.

From the front Sovenski found himself surrounded by unruly and unapologetic teens, Palmer said, and he snapped at one of them, a white 22-yearold youth leader whom Sovenski said smarted off as he walked out of McDonald's. "What we had here was a guy in a particular moment in time who was on the ragged edge, completely frayed," Palmer said after the verdict "He just snapped. What he said was completely inexcusable, but he didn't get into it because of race." Palmer credited jurors who deliberated two

days before reaching the verdict. Any criticism of the verdict, he said, would be a disservice to those 11 men and women. "(They) clearly spent a lot of time listening to all of the evidence, deliberating on both sides ... positions on the case, and then applying the law to the facts," he said. Jurors watched a half dozen videos and heard from 14 witnesses before rendering a verdict. District Judge Scott Wayman called for a sentencing hearing within 30 days of Thursday's verdict.

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Richard Sovenki was captured on video calling agroup of Spokane teens "half-breeds."

Mixed Messages A jury verdict in an Idaho hate crime case sends the wrong message, a victim says BY JOSH KELBY

he message from an Idaho jury has been received loud and clear by people of color - you're noL safe in Nonh Idaho, says J ose Ceniceros. Ceniceros led a Spokane church youth group Lo C oeur d'Alene lasL summer only to have Rich:ird·Sovenski. a 52-year-old I Iaydc:J man. hurl racial slurs at him and the teenagers at a local McDonald's. The Jul) 12 incidcnL was captured on a video that wem viral around the globe, but on Dec. 20, a Kootenai County jury found Sovenski guilty of committing misdemeanor Im· Lery but not felony malicious harassment, a hale crime. 'jusoce was not at al) obtamedt Ceniceros teUs the ln/(IJUU'r. "There's video c.ape of bim doing i~ and they let him go.~ Ceniceros, who served as Immanuel Church's youth community director at the time, had taken the kids to Coeur d'Alene d1at day to hear a preacher speak prior to going to the McDonald's for 1cc cream, during which Sovenski ailegedly punched him and hurled slurs - such as "half-breeds" - al the kids. (1.ne slurs and profanity were caught on the vtdeo recorded by Ceniceros, who says he started filming after he was punched.) He adds that the verdict shows that the justice system won't serve people of color fairly if they do encoumer bigotry and wish to pursue charges in tbe courts. "U you 're a person of color, you can't go to Idaho because something like this might happen.~ Ceniceros adds. ·•1 think it sends a clear message that a person of color [should) think Lwice about going to Idaho because you 're going LO be treated di!ferently." Tony Stewart is secretary for the Kootenai County Task Force on Hum,u1 Relations - an anri-raosm group that was formed m 1981 - and he has a slighLI) more positive spin on the case's outcome.

"1nere was a conviction for the bauery and that's important and that sends a message," Stewart tells the 111/andn. "Of course we agree with the prosecutor's charges, al) of them. but we do have to recognize our system and how iL works." Stewart notes, however, that this is the first case m Kootenai Councy that he can remember where a felony malicious harassmcm cllllrgc which was developed by lawmakers in 1983 in response co domesric terrom'lll by the white sup1emacis1 group Aryan Nauons in North Idaho - wasn't upheld. Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry Mel lugh declined LO Richard Sownslci comment on the verdict or the trial iisclf since Sovenski has yet to be sentenced. (KHQTV reported that Sovenski's defense attorney argued during the trial L11at his client lost his cool and didn't intend to commit a hate crime.) As for the kids who were subjected to Sove.n · ski's behavior during tbe incident. Ceniceros says that d1ey've reacted to the verdict similarly to him. "They've had injustice happen to Lhcm before and it's nothing new to Ll1cm." ln fact, Ceniceros had been working with an attorney to file a civil lawsuit against the cicy of Coeur d'Alene over their alleged mishandling of the cnure case. However, in light of the verdict, Ceniceros says he opted not to pursue licigation. "Seeing bow this rumed out, I doubt . .. I'd be able LO have it [go] in my favor." he says. A date for Sovcnski's scntencmg on the misdemeanor battery charge has yet to be set. according to Kootenai County Prosecutor

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Richard Sovenski was found guilty of committing misdemeanorbattery but not of felony malicious harassment, ahate crime. See story on page 20.

Readers respond to an Idaho man not convicted of a hate crime after yelling racial slurs at a group of teenagers in a Coeur d'Alene McDonalds:

RICHARD ROLLAND: This guy should do time. His sidekick, too. This is not the Idaho I grew up in. TOM HEARN: I wonder about this verdict but I also have a huge respect for the jury system. They had more information than the general public and I assume that they had a good reason to acquit him of the more serious charge. JEFF FERGUSON: What's the point in having a law if you don't enforce it? How much [more] hateful did he have to be? Those kids will never forget that day for the rest of their lives. As he, I'm sure, has already moved on to hate again. â&#x20AC;˘

Kootenai County Task Force On Human Relations Committed to the elimination of prejudice and bigotry.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations worked with and supported the eight victims from Spokane in the Richard A. Sovenski, Jr. Criminal Case from the July 12, 2018 incident at a McDonalds in Coeur d'Alene until the jury verdict on December 20, 2018. On that date, Mr. Sovenski was convicted of the misdemeanor charge of battery on youth religious leader Jose Ceniceros, the victim of the criminal battery.