Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Scrapbook 2019

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Spokane plans service, rally, march, resource fair Spokane's Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Service, Rally, March and Resource Fair are planned for Sunday and Monday, Jan. 20 and 21.

Joe Wittwer, who has been lead pastor at Life Center Foursquare Church in Spokane since 1978, will speak at the Commemoration Service at 4 p.m., Sunday, at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, 806 W. Indiana, said the Rev. James Watkins of the Spokane Ministers' Fellowship, which plans that event. The offering from the service will go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center.

The Rally and March begin at 10 a.m., and the Resource Fair runs from noon to 2 p.m., on Monday, at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

For information, call 868-0856 or visit mlkspokane.org.

Events commemorate MLK in Moscow The University of Idaho and the Office of Multicultural Affairs celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. 's life and legacy through several events commemorating the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that defined his character and empowered his leadersbip,along with the values of universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

For information, call 208-8857716 or email oma@uidaho.edu.

North Idaho 5th graders attend MLK program The 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 5th Grade Children's Program sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

and Nortb Idaho College will be held at '9:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15 , at the North ldabo College Scbu ler Performing Arts Center.

Nationally recognized educator and actor Stu Cabe will entertain the students with his performance of the story, "Big Elephant and Little Elephant," to teach the principles of kindness, inclusion and care for others. The children wi II present essays, dance and music.

For information, call 208-7653932.

Ibram Kendi speaks at WSU in Pullman New York Times bestselling author and history professor Ibram X. Kenru is the keynote speaker for the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, at the CUB Senior Ballroom at Washington State University in Pullman.

Ibram, 36, founding director of theAntiracist Research and Policy Center at American University, seeks to reveal the root of racism, which be says is not bate or ignoranee, but policies people are not aware are discriminatory.

Born in Queens, New York, he attended Florida A & M and then Temple University in Philadelphia, earning a doctoral degree in African-American studies.

Before entering research and academia, be embarked on his journey to address racism.

He is the author of Stamped

from the Beginning: The Definitive History ofRacist ideas in America and will publish his third book in 2019.

He has also been the post doctorate fellow at the National Academy of Education, the Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis and the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Ibram bas taught at Brown University, the University of Chicago, Princeton, Duke, UCLA, SUNY New York, the University of

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Church carries sign in 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Day march.

Florida and currently American University.

In addition to the speaker, WSU's MLKArt for Social Change Competition recognizes the role of art in advancing social justice.

The competition seeks artistic submissions that provoke, challenge and inspire to call attention to the need to recognize the inequality that persists in the world today and the necessity to envision and build a new world.

Creative works and submission forms are due Friday, Jan. 11.

For information, call 339-6172 or visit mlk.wsu.edu.

Kazi Joshua presents Walla Walla event Guest speaker Kazi Joshua will present a community event, "It ls Not Clear What We Shall

Become," in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 21 , at Walla Walla University Church, 212 SW 4th St. in College Place.

For information, call 527-2273 or email emily.ti1lotson@wallawalla.edu.

Yakima pastor leads city-wide service, march The city-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Service will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 20, at Central Lutheran Church, 1602 W. Yakima Ave. in Yakima.

The 34thAnnual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March begins at 11 :45 a.m., Monday, Jan. 21 , at Fifth Ave. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Yakima.

The Rev. Robert Trimble, who is helping organize the events,

said that King's birthday should be honored in a special way, because he was more than a great black leader.

"He was a great American leader whose human rights victories have directly benefited millions of women, other people of color, the aged and the handicapped across the country," he said. "His prophetic life should not be dishonored with a weekend of frivolity and good times.

"It should be a day of study, reflection and learning about our historical struggles against racism in this country," he said.

Robert believes that's important in order to confront the growing devastation of the black community and to remember that massive unemployment, segregated housing, separate education, increased militarism and cooperation with the former racist South Africa were issues King addressed.

"The legacy of King isn' t just

the work he did, but what be left for others to carry on to build on his dream and create the beloved community," he said.

He urges people to honor King's life and work by pledging to do all they can to "makeAroerica and the world a place where equality, justice, freedom and peace flourish. " For information, email rtrimble5 l@gmail.com.

The Press, Wednesday, January 2, 2019

IC aims to Launch 2019 right

By JUDD WILSON

Staff Writer COEUR d' ALENE Innovators and ordinary folks alike need time for personal growth, said local tech investor Nick Smoot. That's why the Innovation Collective is planning a two-day seminar designed to help people launch the best new year of their lives.

Launch 2019 takes place Jan. 11-12 at the Innovation Den in downtown Coeur d'Alene, and costs $5 for students and $10 for adults. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, said Smoot, and no registration is required.

Eight speakers from near and far will inspire attendees in eight areas of personal life that the Innovation Collective bas termed "the great eight."

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Speakers include Arabian Prince, who was one of the founding members of rap pioneer group N.W.A., financial planner Brad Dugdale, Hoopfest CEO Matt Santangelo, and local human rights leader Tony Stewart.

Tech evangelist Robert Scoble will share hard lessons learned from the heart of Silicon Valley on Friday night.

Saturday's session will include several opportunities for attendees to apply lessons learned to their own circumstances.

Smoot said the speakers will offer â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘raw transparency about the struggle it takes to successfully walk through life."

The event will include the unveiling of Reflect. The Innovation Collective created Reflect to help "all humans to flourish, give of their best and highest persons to their jobs, community, and families," said Smoot.

Smoot explained that there hasn't yet been a good space for contemplating personal growth. Unlike

Courtesy graphic

Launch 2019 will Include the unveiling of Reflect, a personal growth onllne community developed by the Innovation Collective.

Facebook, which centers on entertainment and drama, Reflect will be a space to chart your own progress through eight areas of growth, and to anonymously talk to others who are also

care of themselves, said Smoot.

"Everyone thinks things are great," be said, but the reality is that many live in darkness. Colin Kroll, the co-founder of Vine and working towards their founder of HQ Trivia, was goals. It will also be a found dead with a drug space to get writings, overdose Dec. 17, said articles, and podcasts Smoot Reflect will also that help you ponder "the function as a modern-day great 8," he said. Reflect "Dear Abby" where users will allow users to rate can anonymously post themselves on bow they questions, get feedback, did that week in each area and get or give advice. of personal development, For more information and will give them on Launch 2019, feedback on their progress go to: https:/ / in the form of graphs. innovationcollective.co Entrepreneurs, "We'd love to see a business owners, and packed house," said Smoot, those in the creative with "as many people from class often drive so hard the region who want to to build their businesses maintain awesomeness in that they neglect to take their lives."

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

Press Release January 8, 2019 TO: The Media From: The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations RE: The 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Kids Program For More Information: Tony Stewart (208) 765-3932 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) and North Idaho College will sponsor the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 5th Grade Children's Program on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in the Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College.

This year's program will include dance, musical numbers, children essays and Stu Cabe of the Ovation Company, a w e llknown educator and actor with 23-year's experience in the f ield of education.

The Ovation Company under the leadership of Cabe shares t he story of the "Big Elephant, Little Elephant" with appearances at school districts across America. Cabe's message features a positive school environment that stresses courage, values, safety and kindness.

In supporting this year's program, Post Falls School Superintendent Jerry Keane stated: "Our 5th grade students have been blessed to be able to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program for the past 33-years. The students' learn a great deal about how to treat one another and all people from adult presenters but even more from their peers. We look forward to another great year."

"The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. program for our 5th grade students is a significant, deeply meaningful tradition in our community. They benefit from learning about the legacy of the civil rights movement and our ongoing focus on reducing and eliminating prejudice through education. Additionally, we all learn from hearing the voices of these students as they share themes of love, acceptance, understanding and equality," stated Coeur d'Alene School Superintendent Steven Cook.

Aaron Drake, Assistant Principal at Ramsey Science Magnet School and co-coordinator of this year's program expressed the support of the Coeur d'Alene School District: "We are thrilled to bring over 900 fifth grade students to hear a message on kindness and inclusion as we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This annual tradition has been a staple in the community for 34 years and I am honored to be part of the process. Each year, I'm blown away by the maturity of our 5th grade students when they attend the celebration. We would like to thank the Coeur d'Alene School District, Post Falls School District, North Idaho College, and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations for their support."

The continued commitment and sponsorship by the KCTFHR for 34-years was echoed by Task Force President Christie Wood: "One of the most important efforts of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations is our annual sponsorship of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Kids' Program for the past 34-years. In the world of children, there is no color that prohibits opportunity, love, justice and inclusion. We are all better people through the eyes and actions of our children. This annual program teaches us that lesson."

Over the previous 33-years some 37,000 fifth graders have been part of this program.

The Coeur d'Alene kids' program will begin at 9:30 AM followed by the Post Falls kids' program at 11 :00 AM at NIC.

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Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream!"

55th anniversary of his timeless speech - August 28, 1963

» Welcome and Introductions

o Aaron Drake, Assistant Principal of Ramsey Magnet School of Science o Rick MacLennan, North Idaho College President o Peter Soderberg, ASNIC Student Body President

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Martin Luther King Jr. -A Tribute to Peace slideshow

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National Anthem -

Lake City High School "Navy Blues", Directed by Mark Petty

» Student Essay Readings

o Nathan Smith (Bryan), Lillian Osborne (Atlas), Selena Lopez (Winton), Audrey Campbell (Skyway)

» Skyway Elementary Special Chorus -

Directed by Liz Thurgood

o ''Agents of Change" -Teresa Jennings

» Why a message of kindness? » Student Essay Readings o

Kiana Simon (Borah), Emerson Rakes (Sorensen), Saige Lenz (Ramsey), Charli Hildago (NExA)

» Introduction of Stu Cabe » "The Big Elephant Story" -

Stu Cabe

» Student Essay Readings

o Reagan Meine (Hayden Meadows), Rylee Racanelli (Fernan), River Kermelis (Dalton)

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» Dismissal to buses

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All essays will be read by the autlwrs during the program 1st

Place winner: River Kermelis - Dalton Elementary- "It All Began with a Dream"

2°d Place runner-up: Rylee Racanelli - Fernan Elementary - "Dream Come True"

Honorable Mentions: };,> Charli Hildago - Northwest Expeditionary Academy- "Martin Luther King Jr." ~ Reagan Meine - Hayden Meadows Elementary - "One Man, One Big Change" };,> Saige Lenz - Ramsey Magnet - "How Martin Luther King Jr. Changed Our World" };> Emerson Rakes - Sorensen Elementary- "I Have A Dream" };,> Kiana Simon - Borah Elementary - "My Plan to Change the World" };> Audrey Campbell - Skyway Elementary - "Bullying" };,> Selena Lopez - Winton Elementary - "I Have a Dream ... " };> Lillian Osborne -Atlas Elementary- "One Girl's Dream" };,> Nathan Smith- Bryan Elementary- "Dr. King" Special thanks to all of the classrooms who submitted art! Please take a moment to view all of the entries in the foyer area. Winners will be announced later this week.

Special Chorus Skyway Elementary School Director: Liz Thurgood Anna Ploof Claire Wright Damien Hober Eli Shaw Ella Hill Emily Moore

Hailey Hawkins Jeremiah ViaFranco Johnny Hill Karis Forsgren Kate Moglia Kendra Schiley

Kyleah Cline Kyrah Ellsworth Madeline Peterson Madison Meek Olivia Matthews William Cork

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

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Wednesday January 16, 2019

Following in a King's footsteps in Amer ican h istory.

"It didn't seem like anything special, so I asked my mom why the bus was there," he said. "She told me that the bus was very special.

By DEVIN WEEKS It was Rosa Parks' bus, Staff Writer but I had no idea who COEUR d'ALENE Rosa Parks was, so we The name "Rosa Parks" sat down in the bus and didn't mean much to my mom told me the Bryan Elementary fifthstory. I was so surprised grader Nathan Smith to learn that just because when he went to the of skin color. someone Henry Iâ&#x20AC;˘'ord Museum in was treated badly.

Michigan a couple years "We. kept talking and ago.

I was so glad to learn The museum, he that because of people recalled, was giant. It was like Rosa Parks and filled with hundreds of Dr. Martin Luther King cars, airplanes hanging Jr., the world changed," from the ceiling, fullNathan said.

LO~f r, [,ENQfl 'Press size trains and "old Learning how Parks helped launch the civil Mottvatlonal speaker Stu Cabe speaks presidential limos, even the one John F. Kennedy rights movement from during the 34th annual Dr. Martin that very bus was an Luther King Jr. Kids Program at NIC on was shot in."

Spying an old eye-opening moment Tuesday. He discussed with elementary for young Nathan, who students how to be a big elephant and Montgomery City Lines bus. Nathan was about to a good role model to younger kids in See MLK, A3 get an important lesson their schools.

Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. NIC host MLK program

Wednesday, January 16, 201 9

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Abrle Sterbank, a fifth-grade student from Prairie View Elementary School, reads her essay about Martin Luther King Jr. during the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Program at NIC.

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opened the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Program on Tuesday with his essay, "Dr. King," Nathan wrote in his essay that he was amazed to learn King graduated from high school at 15. "l also wondered how one man was able to change the world," Nathan said. "As I listened to some of his speeches and read his famous quotes, I realized that his superpower was words. His speeches reached into the hearts of people and inspired change."

Fifth-graders from the Coeur d'Alene School

District astembled in North Idal\o College's Schuler Performing Arts Center in the morning to celebrate King's life and accomplishments. Post Falls fifth-graders attended a later session, giving more than 900 students the opportunity to hear a message of kindness and inclusion and explore the legacy King left behind in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day next Monday.

Selena Lopez, of Winton Elementary, read her essay, "I Have A Dream." She dreams that people will be nice to each other and not judge each other by their outward appearance.

"We could change the world by being our best person and by becoming

a hero to someone else," Selena said. "l wish our nation could be a peaceful place with no more violence."

The Coeur d'Alene program included a performance by the Skyway Elementary Special Chorus, the national anthem by the Lake City High School Navy Blues student choir, and a keynote speech by actor and educator Stu Cabe of the Ovation Company, who encouraged the students to be "big elephants" and stand up for what is right.

Other students read essays about how to stop bullying, how to make friends with your enemies, the importance of solving problems without violence and

how people need to work harder to get along.

"Just turn on the news, look on Facebook or sit around grownups at a family reunion, and you will see how angry everyone is at each other over politics," Nathan said. "If we have learned anything from the past, it's that we need to stop fighting. We shouldn't hate people because of skin color or what politician they like ... Dr. King has the magic words we need 'We must learn to work together as brothers or perish together as fools.'"

More than 37,000 local fifth-graders have experienced the annual program, presented by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Sovenski sentence includes jail, fine

By RALPH BARTHOLOT

Staff Writer COEUR d'ALENE -

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A Hayden man who was acquitted of a hate crime for an altercation with a group of Spokane teenagers last summer at a Coeur d'Alene McDonald's was sentenced Tuesday for misdemeanor battery.

First District Judge Scott Wayman imposed the

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sentence Sovenskl of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor after reprimanding 52-yearold Richard Sovenski for his actions.

"This was an unprovoked attack in public in front of children," Wayman said. "This was a crime. Tbfa was a battery."

A jury last month acquitted Sovenski of the felony malicious harassment, a hate crime, bllt found him guilty of the misdemeanor after Sovenski was filmed in th e parking lot of the McDonald's on the 300 block of west Hanley A venue yelling obscenities at teenangers from a Spokane-area church youth group.

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"(Sovenski) needs to take a deep look at himself.

He is a bully and takes it from A1 out on people."

Sovenski, who testified Sovenski had already last month on his behalf, served in jail after his told the court that work arrest, and allowed the stress, his wife's illness, sheet metal foreman to and the screw up of his be released from jail to McDonald's order caused go to work. further agitation when Youth group leader the teens acted rudely Quezacoatl Ceniceros, in the restaurant, and who testified that then egged on Sovenski Sovenski had knocked outside the eatery. him to the ground, A jury deliberated and who had used his six hours Dec. 20 before cellphone to document acquitting Sovenski of what happened after that the felony. His attorney, - including Sovenski Michael Palmer, said yelling at the teenagers his client's anger wasn't - called the defendant racially motivated. a bully who needs to "What we had consider his actions. here was a guy in a "It has impacted me, particular moment in but more importantly time who was on the it has impacted the ragged edge, completely children," Ceniceros said. 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."

Wayman didn't let Sovenski off the hook.

The defendant's actions were unpardonable, the judge said.

"The facts of the case are disturbing," Wayman said. "These kids were behaving like kids behave. The whole thing was captured on video.

Nothing justified your actions. Nothing. You had a bad day; lots of people have bad days. People that have days do not react the way you did. You took out your frustration on kids.

A fun outing turned into a nightmare foi; these kids due to your behavior and actions."

March 2019 - The Fig Tree - Page 3

Conference draws human rights experts Researchers, academics, human rights experts, community organizers and activists wiU be among the participants in the 5th International Conference on Hate Studies April 2 to 4 at Gonzaga University's Hemmingson Center.

As it marks its 20th anniversary in 2019, Gonzaga's Institute for Hate Studies (GIHS) is sponsoring the event on "Building Peace through Dialogue, Kindness and Forgiveness" in conjunction with tbe Kootenai County Task Force for Human Relations, Spokane County Human Rights Task Force and Gonzaga Student Chapter of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

It is an interdisciplinary academic forum on bate, related social problems, and ways to create socially just, inclusive communities, said Kristine Hoover, director of the GIHS. Lessons will help participants analyze and combat hatred, and build commitment to peace, hu-

man rights and justice.

The conference features tracks on research, community building, education and development. lo a pre-conference event, Greater Spokane Progress and Empire f{ealth Foundation are offering a "Why Race Matters" workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, at the Hemmingson Center at Gonzaga.

"This year the conference includes an afternoon session Wednesday, April 3, for community dialogue on a range of views on human rights," said Kristine.

On April 4, those interested in researching how to counter hate can participate in ''Design Cbarrettes" for a library resource.

The arts presentations include performances of a play about Ruby Bridges- the first AfricanAmerican child to integrate a white school in the South- written by a Gonzaga student, a performance and workshop by local

artists from Power 2 The Poetry, and a student choral, theatre and dance performance, "A New Season: A Celebration ofArtistry, Place and Potential."

The conference seeks to provide participants with skills to: • Foster conversations on building community in hate studies; • Share actions to challenge hate and support social change; • Share knowledge, practices and perspectives from academics, activists and professionals; • Generate interdisciplinary research projects and new theories, strategies for social justice.

"If we understand hate better, we can improve a·pproaches to combat it," Kristine said. "We can have real-world impact, including creating models for changing society, government and lives."

For information, call 313-3665, email gibs@gonzaga.edu or visitgonzaga.edu/hatestudies. To register, visit https://bit.ly/2Cghl0i.

WHEELER:A good man gone As the many friends of Dennis Wheeler take this time to remember the life of this extraordinary man, I wish to add my cherished memories of my friend of almost 48 years.

Dennis was gifted as a visionary leader, a true icon and an institutional giant not only due to his entrepreneurial success establishing a world class corporation creating jobs for many individuals and the well-being for their families but equally important was ' his passion and devotion to support numerous charities educational institutions, he~th and medical services and a strong commitment to human rights.

I first met my friend on Nov. 10, 1971, when he and Gonzaga University Professor Father Nigro made a joint presentation at the North

Idaho College Popcorn Forum.

I've cherished that long-term friendship for almost five decades.

To demonstrate Dennis's appreciation of friendship he had with so many people, let me share my personal experience.

I often got a call from Dennis inviting me to lunch.

During those lunches he in.quired how could h~ help with our human rights work assist with educational need~ and especially for college students, ways to bring people together for civil dialogue, and he always shared his latest world travels regarding his expanding knowledge of people around the world and the rich diversity he encountered.

He often became my teacher regarding world affairs.

Please permit me to ·give two examples from those luncheons to illustrate his giving spirit. At one luncheon he authorized me to contract ' with a sign company for the signage "Human Rights Education Institute" that graces the entrance to the HREI center in Coeur d'Alene.

Second, as CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (Coeur), he made sure that his company was an annual sponsor of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Banquet. I shall always be grateful that the K~TFHR Bo~d honored my friend Dennis with our annual KCTFHR Civil Rights Award at our banquet on March 20, 2006.

We all will miss our dear friend, but take comfort in the time we had with him and the remarkable legacy he leaves us, as well as future generations.

I extend my deepest sympathy to all the members of pennis's wonderful family. Rest c m peace my good friend. t TONY STEWART J Coeur d'Alene t

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The Press, Friday, March 29, 2019

Human Rights Banquet is April 12 The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations announced Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, a Democrat who represents Boise in the Idaho Legislature, will be the keynote speaker at the Task Force's 22nd annual Human Rights Banquet on April 12. After serving one term in the Idaho House, Buckner-Webb is in her third term in the Senate.

Buckner-Webb, a fifth-generation Idahoan, is the first AfricanAmerican to be elected to the Idaho Senate.

Her career includes being a successful small business owner. consultant and human resources expert with major corporations.

Among her numerous awards and honors are the 2012 NAACP Heritage Hall of Fame Award; the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award; and United Nations Human Rights Award.

She holds a bachelor's degree from George Fox University and a master's degree from Northwestern Nazarene University.

The evening will also feature Spokane and the Inland Northwest's well-known pastor Rev. Happy Watkins . presenting passages from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.

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Friday, March 29, 201 9

We're so pleased to announce this.year's recipients ... " CHRISTIE WOOD, KCTFHR presidert

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Jake Rogers; as well as Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Art from C1 Verharen."

Wood also announced The event also this year's KCTFHR Bill recognizes community Wassmuth Memorial members for their work Volunteer-of-the-Year supporting human Award will go to Alan rights.

Wasserman, Donna "We're so pleased to Stambaugh and Steve announce Troxel. this year's Over the past 21 recipients years, revenue from of the the KCTFHR Banquet, KCTFHR in partnership with Civil the NIC Foundation, Rights has provided 91 NIC Award." minority student said task scholarships. force Wood The banquet president reception and auction Christie Wood. will begin at 5 p.m. and "Recipients include dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the three members of the Best Western Plus Coeur Coeur d'Alene Police d'Alene lnn. Individual Department: Chief Lee tickets are $40. For more White, Capt. David information, call 208-765Hagar and Detective 3932.

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We Extend a Special Thanks to the Following Benefactors

Gold The Coeur d'Alene Tribe (2) Dayne & Judi Kenyon Hanna Margaret Reed Foundation Millennium Business Services

Silver Avista Corporation CDA Police Association (2) Gonzaga University: Office of Dr. Raymond Reyes Bernie Gurstein Hagadone Hospitality Lewis-Clark State College Marshall & Dolly Mend (3) NIC Board of Trustees NIC Communications& Gov't Relations NIC Diversity Council NIC Social & Behavioral Sciences/Diversity NIC Student Activities NIC VP â&#x20AC;˘ Student Services Numerica Credit Union The Spokesman-Review Tony Stewart

Banquet Program Dinne r P ledge of Allegiance Welcome to Coeur d 'Alene Introductions

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Scott Kennedy, AS NI C VP Hon. Steve Widmyer Mayor of Coeur d'Alene Tony Stewart Master of Ceremonies

Introduction of Keynote

Peter Soderberg, ASNIC Pres.

Keynote Address

Hon. Cherie Buckner Webb

Excerpt "I Have a Dream" speech

Rev. Happy Watkins

KCTFHR Civil Rights Awards

KCT F HR Board

Live Auction Item

Don't miss thisl C losing Remarks

Amazing package: Gonzaga

Men's Basketball Tony Stewart

The North Idaho College Foundation and the Human Rights Education Institute (thro ugh the banquet profits provided to HREI by th e KCTFHR) have proudly partnered for 21 consecutive years to fund a total of 91 minority student scholarships. The awards are made in honor of former Idaho Governor Phil Batt and former Idaho State Senator Mary Lou Reed.

The scholarships represent the student populations of African American, Native American, Asian, Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, LGBT and students with disabilities. The 2018-2019 recipients are Sativa Bohiman, Aaron Dyk, MacKenzie Ferris, and Patrick Lasu.

The NIC EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARDS for 2019 are on the back of this program.

A special thanks to Jeff Crowe of Bunkhouse Media and Andy Finney of Local Motion Media for thei r contributions of video taping and airing of the banquet!

NIC EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARDS for 2019

The Award is based on three 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 Value "A learning environment that celebrates the uniqueness of all individuals and encourages cultural competency"

Katherine Tanski Advisor in Instructional Design E-Learning North Idaho College (Staff)

Alan Lamb Chair, North Idaho College Division of Socia l and Behavioral Sciences Anthropology and Sociology Instructor North Idaho College (Faculty)

Eduin Amador Maldonado Active in NIC International groups & diversity events North Idaho College (Student)

Congratulations to these deserving diversity award recipients!

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COEUR d' ALENE Saturday April 13, 2019

Vldh liberty and justice for all United States, "the way we take great pride in declaring ourselves to be a beacon of fairness and equity."

"The theory and the

By DEVIN WEEKS concept's powerful, but Staff Writer sometimes, we fail," she said.

"Sometimes we fail."

COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho "I pledge allegiance to the state Sen. Cherie Bucknerflag of the United States of Webb remembers hearing the America and to the republic Pledge of Allegiance for the for which it stands one first time when she was in nation, indivisible, with the first grade. liberty and justice for all. Say "Just hearing the words, I amen," she said, the "amen" knew it was good stuff. I felt echoing back from the crowd. like I was somebody special "But do we see it, do we to be standing there with my share it on the regular? hand over my heart hearing Do we?" she asked, several the words, 'With liberty and voices answering "No." LOREN BENOIT/Press justice for all.'"

"What's going to Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, who represents Boise In the Idaho It was empowering change that? We are. We Legislature, gives her keynote address at the 22nd annual Human Rights for a 6-year-old, but she are accountable. We are Banquet Friday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. Buckneradmitted, she has at times Webb, a fifth-generation Idahoan, Is the first African-American to be felt disappointed with the See BANQUET, A3 elected to the Idaho Senate.

Sen. Buckner-Webb delivers moving speech at Human Rights Banquet

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responsible," she said.

"You are responsible."

The words of BucknerWebb's keynote speech Friday evening were in line with the theme of the evening, "With Liberty and Justice For All," as more than 300 people gathered in a bay of the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn to celebrate the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations' 22nd annual Human Rights Banquet.

"It's clear that, in reality, liberty nor justice is available to all citizens," she said.

"If we are not vigilant, purposeful, the access to justice will become more and more tenuous for the greater numbers of our population. Sometimes I fear that we are going backward, but we must not allow that."

She said some may be feeling good, comfortable and that "we've got it

handled," but "we don't have it handled. We still have much work to do."

"It is my sincere hope that we will renew our commitment to honor our responsibility to one another, to our communities and to those most vulnerable and least able to advocate for themselves," she said. "We have the power and responsibility to interrupt injustice wherever it exists."

Punctuated with a touch of humor and soulful song, BucknerWebb, D-Boise, received several rounds of applause and a standing ovation at the close of her speech. She urged the attendees to "say yes" to standing up for human rights, to be accountable and to hold each other accountable, to seek justice and condemn acts of violence.

She quoted poet Frederick Buechner: "Pay mind to your own life, your own health and wholeness. A bleeding heart is of no help to

anyone if it bleeds to death."

The evening also included several awards and scholarships distributed to those in the community who continue to fight for human and civil rights, as well as a powerful delivery of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words from Rev. Happy Watkins.

"First of all, the fact that (Buckner-Webb) is the first AfricanAmerican female in the Senate, and she would come to our banquet and speak, we're just thrilled that she's willing to do that for us," said KCTFHR President Christie Wood. "And tonight, we're giving our civil rights award to the police department, and I am so excited about that.

When we can recognize organizations for getting it right and doing the right thing when it comes to hate crimes, if you look across the nation you don't always see that."

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Rev. Happy WIikins recites an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at Friday's Human Rights Banquet at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

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Brian and Jennifer O'Callahan sign their names for a Coeur d'Alene Resort auction Item at Friday's Human Rights Banquet at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

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From left, Coeur d'Alene Police Department Capt. David Hagar, Detective Jake Rogers, and Chief Lee White and the police department were this year's recipients of the KCTFHR Civil Rights Award for their work In handling a hate crime that happened at the McDonald's on Hanley Avenue In July of last year.

THURSDAY, April 18, 2019

136th VOL .• ISSUE 312. EST. MAy 19, 1883

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NIC FOUNDATION TO SELL FORMER ARYAN NATIONS SITE IN AN EFFORT TO TURN AROUND I.AND THAT WAS ONCE ...

An excavator digs Into a dllapldated cook shack at the Aryan Nations compound near Hayden Lake on May 23, 2001.

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By Chad Sokol THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The former site of the Aryan Nations compound near Hayden Lake will soon be put up for sale.

The North Idaho College Foundation plans to sell the undeveloped 20-acre property along Rimrock Road and put the proceeds into an endowment for human rights education.

The land, now an idyllic slice of North Idaho countryside, once had around 11 structures that served as headquarters for white supremacists under the leadership of Richard Butler.

The Aryan Nations went bankrupt after losing a $6.3 million civil lawsuit in 2000, and the compound was later purchased by the Carr Foundation, which cleared out

the burned remnants of Aryan buildings after firefighters used some of them for practicing arson investigations.

The Carr Foundation - led by Idaho Falls native, tech multimillionaire and philanthropist Greg Carr - gifted the property to the NIC Foundation in 2002 with a stipulation that it couldn't be transferred to another new owner for 20 years.

The college's president at the time said the land would be turned into a "peace park." It was never redeveloped.

Carr recently agreed to waive the 20year requirement, allowing the NIC Foundation to sell the land in a favorable real estate market The property, which comprises two legal parcels, was valued at about $260,000 for tax purposes last See LAND, 8

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I'm very excited about the prospect of moving on and turning that over to a private developer."

Norm Gissell RPt11ed attorney who worked with SPLU to b,,nkrupt Ary.in Nation~

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In an emailed statement, the NIC Foundation's executive director, Rayelle Anderson, said the new endowment will be named after Carr.

"The endowment earnings will be annually distributed in perpetuity to North Idaho College in support of human rights education," Anderson said.

Attempts to reach Carr who now spends much of his time in Mozambique working to restore a warravaged national park were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Norm Gissell, a retired Coeur d'Alene attorney who worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center to bankrupt the Aryan Nations, on Wednesday recalled the incident that sparked the highprofile lawsuit: On the night of July 1, 1998, mem-

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hers of the Aryan Nations chased, assaulted and shot at a mother and son on a dirt road outside the compound.

Two decades later, new development could transform a site where crosses were burned and extremists convened to plot the creation of an all-white na-

tion.

"It's a beautiful piece of land,'' Gissell said. "I'm very excited about the prospect of moving on and turning that over to a private developer."

CONTACT THE WRITER:

~509) 459-5047 chadso'.'a,spokesman.com

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Former neo-Nazi site--- '.)'·to .be sold .· Funds from sale will further human rights education in the region

By RALPH BARTHOLOT Staff Writer

The road is paved now where a gravel strip once headed north through a fl)rested grove edged by farm fields.

The sawed-off remains of support posts are all that is left of a guard tower that was ribboned with Nazi banners and placards, and the driveway leading to what was once Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler's neo-Nazi compound is covered in grass.

The compound was

destroyed almost 20 years ago after a lawsuit filed against the Aryan Nations bankrupted Butler and his group.

Although its role as an integral piece of North Idaho history appeared to have sunset almost two decades ago, the 20-acre parcel along Rimrock Road has another story to tell.

The wooded land north of Hayden will soon be sold by its owner, the North Idaho College Foundation. The foundation acquired the property in 2002 as

a donation from Idaho Falls philanthropist Greg Carr, and the money from the sale will be used for an endowment in Carr's name that will fund human rights education at NIC. The plans were revealed this week after months of groundwork that gathered support from stakeholders including school districts and area human rights groups.

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Tony Stewart, left, and Norm Gluel stand near the gate to the Hayden property that was once an Aryan Nations compound. Stewart, one of the founding members of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relatlons, and Gl1sel, an attorney whose work helped win a $6.3 mllllon settlement that bankrupted the Aryan Nations, continue their human rights work today, nearly 20 years after the suit ended and the See SOLD, A9 Aryans were trespassed from the property.

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"What an appropriate use of resources," Steve Cook, superintendent of Coeur d'Alene schools wrote in a letter endorsing the plan to use money from the sale of the property for human rights education.

"I can think of no better manner to honor that courage and legacy than to teach our children a better way."

Cook was among a dozen entities including local universities and colleges, school districts and human rights groups to endorse the plan.

The project was a long time coming, said Tony Stewart, one of the founders of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, and a friend of Carr.

"The land needed time to rest after all the violence that had taken place there," Stewart said.

It's been 18 years since the Aryans left the property after losing a $6.3 million civil suit.

The suit began with an incident on July l , 1998, when Victoria Keenan and her son, Jason, were assaulted and terrorized

by Aryans who shot at them and forced their car into a ditch.

Standing in front of the gate of the former compound on Rimrock Road, Norm Gissel, the task force's Hayden attorney who instigated the civil suit against the neo-Nazis. said the Keenans' small car drove up the grade on the gravel road in front of the compound when its engine backfired.

Two Aryans who were drinking on guard duty, Gissel said, radioed that they were being shot.

A pickup truck soon raced down the driveway from the main compound, snatched up the guards and began c9asing the K~nans' small car, Gissel said.

One of the Aryans stood on the bed of the pickup intermittently firing at the Keenans with an SKS assault rifle. Bullets zinged through the car's interior striking the console, the dashboard.

'It's amazing they weren't hit," Gissel said.

After being chased 2 miles, running a stop sign and skidding around a sharp curve, a bullet struck a tire on the Keenans' car and it careened off the road.

The Aryans threatened to kill the Keenans if they reported the incident to authorities. One of the Aryans broke Victoria Keenan's ribs with a rifle butt as she sat in her disabled vehicle.

A neighbor who had heard gunshots emerged from an adjacent driveway carrying a gun, and along with an approaching motorist, chased off the Aryans.

A few days later the task force received a call from a still-shaken Keenan, said Stewart.

He had not heard of the incident until then.

"That was the most important call the task force ever received," Stewart said.

Gissel became the Keenans' personal attorney and he enrolled the Southern Poverty Law Center to join the fight against Butler and his group. On Sept. 7, 2000, a 12-member jury reached their verdict.

"Because of that incident, and Norm Gissel, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the task force, they were successful in bringing the civil suit that bankrupted the Aryan Nations," Stewart said.

After the successful lawsuit, Butler and his followers were trespassed from the land and the compound was burned as part of a joint training exercise by local and regional

Friday, April 19, 2019

North Idaho fire departments. The land was then purchased for $250,000 by Carr, a humanitarian who had ties to the Kootenai County task force. The ground that had once been the headquarters of a group connected to 100 felonies and more than a half-dozen murders, Gissel said, would be set aside as a site of peace.

Since then the land has sat idle.

In November, Stewart's idea to sell the land so its value could further human rights in North Idaho was pitched to Carr, who jumped on board.

"I love this idea," Carr replied in an email.

"Let's sell the land and get a faculty visiting chair!"

The endowment, Stewart said, will be named for Carr, who gifted the land to NIC in recognition of the college's years of commitment to human rights and social justice.

'1 respect all of you, the good citizens of Kootenai County, and my friend Tony Stewart, for advancing the fundamental truth that all humans are one, that all humans deserve dignity," Carr wrote in a January letter to NIC officials.

In a letter to the college, Stewart, the task force's board secretary, said proceeds from the sale will result in netting a greater influence for human rights in the region.

"The Kootenai County

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"I love this idea. Let's sen the land and get afaculty visiting chair!"

GREG CARR

responding to apitch to sell the land Task Force on Human Relations board can think of no better way to reverse almost 30 years of messages and acts of hate by Aryan Nations in our region than with using the funds from the sale of the property to

establish a permanent endowment for the study of human rights and our democracy based on the eternal principle that all human beings are born free and equal," Stewart wrote.

Stewart and Gissel,

f both in their 70s, have been working, each in their own capacities, and often alongside one another to cement the principle not just in Kootenai County, but internationally.

Creation of the NIC Gregory C. Carr Visiting Faculty Chair will ensure the message of human rights will continue.

"This is one of the great morality stories of the Inland Northwest,'' Gissel said.

A6

I Friday, April 19, 2019

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1n1on Editorial

Dealing with hate literature: No easy answer n this beautiful, mostly peaceful place, hatred Ilurks.

Every once in a while it lifts its sick head - and we mean that literally. Anyone who would distribute the kind of disgusting, hateful literature as a Coeur d'Alene neighborhood received recently is not mentally or emotionally healthy.

The latest propaganda is recycled from 2016, with an updated assault on diversity.

The conscientious citizen who passed along the tip acknowledged that she wasn't sure if the newspaper should report it as "news" or ignore it. We choose to ignore it, but with some reluctance - and an explanation.

First, we know that our decision not to publish the images distributed to a few homes will be viewed by some as censorship. We understand, because it's true. Some media outlets and industry experts would disagree with our decision, some ardently. And again, we understand.

Right or wrong, our determination is based on these considerations:

â&#x20AC;˘ This distribution of anonymous hate literature on a minuscule scale is not a news event. These hit-and-run acts of cowardice aren't uncommon. Further, there's no evidence that they're anything more than the nocturnal exercises of one low-intelligence, high-emotion individual. â&#x20AC;˘ As in the days of Aryan Nation parades in downtown Coeur d'Alene, we're mindful of the media's tendency to get "played" by destructive interests. Back then, a few knuckleheads marching down Sherman Avenue in their Nazi gear was sometimes witnessed by only handfuls of local gawkers and protesters, but coverage around the globe reinforced an impression that North Idaho was densely populated with likeminded ghouls. Whoever dropped off the latest hate fliers is clearly stupid, but perhaps sly enough to hope that media would spread the poison much farther than he or she ever could.

To those who believe there's value in knowing that someone or several someones who harbor this kind of anger and hatred lives among us, again, we understand. But we also believe that's true in virtually every community of any size in this great land of ours.

In our humble view, this is not news. It's the bad behavior of an underdeveloped or damaged brain which should be pitied, not promoted.

4A

I News

I Idaho Statesman

TUESDAY MAY 28 2019 IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

I

Hate makes a comeback in the Northwest or maybe it never left

BY NICHOLAS K GERANIOS

Associated Press

Nearly two decades after the Aryan Nations' Idaho compound was demolished, far-right extremists are maintaining a presence in the Pacific Northwest.

White nationalism has been on the rise across the U.S., but it has particular resonance along the Idaho-Washington border, where the Aryans espoused hate and violence for years.

The neo-Nazi group was based near Hayden Lake, Idaho, starting in the 1970s, and eventually was bankrupted in a lawsuit brought by local activists and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Its compound was seized, and supporters dispersed.

But a series of incidents in recent weeks show far-right sentiments never really left the conservative region. In the county that is home to Hayden Lake, for instance, Republicans last month passed a measure expressing support for U.S. entry of a prominent Austrian far-right activist who was investigated for ties to the suspected New Zealand mosque gunman.

In 2018, at least nine hate groups operated in the region of Spokane and North Idaho, including Identity Evropa, Proud Boys, ACT for America and America's Promise Ministries, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center does not track how many mem-

ELAINE THOMPSON AP

Norm Gissel smiles as he talks about the imminent dismantling of the former headquarters of the Aryan Nations in Hayden Lake on May 22, 2001. Behind Gisel is a Nazi insignia painted atop the roof of the compound's cafeteria. Nearly two decades after the Aryan Nations compound was demolished in Idaho, far-right extremists are maintaining a presence in the Pacific Northwest.

bers belong to each group.

Keegan Hankes, a researcher for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the number of hate groups is growing across the U.S., driven in part by a toxic political culture. The human rights group counted 784 active hate groups in the U.S. in 2014 and 1,020 in 2018. .

In particular, white supremacist groups are growing because of fears that the country's racial makeup is changing.

"That drives a ton of anxiety," Hankes said.

These new far-right activists are more scattered than the ones who used to gather at the Aryan Nations by the dozens, experts say.

"It is no ]onger neces-

sary to go to a compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho," said Kristine Hoover, director of the Gonzaga Institute for Hate Studies in Spokane.

With the proliferation of social media, groups "form in dispersed locations" and gatherings are "more covert," she said.

In late April, a selfdescribed "American Nationalist" named Brittany Pettibone appeared at a meeting of Kootenai County Republicans to ask for help to bring her boyfriend, Martin Sellner, to the country from Austria.

Pettibone, 26, said Sellner wants to marry her and live in Post Falls, Idaho.

Pettibone was a big promoter of the hoax known as "Pizzagate,"

telling her online followers that Hillary Clinton and other high-profile Democrats were involved in satanic rituals and child sex trafficking tied to a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant.

Sellner is a leading figure in the extremist "identitarian" movement, which espouses a white nationalist ideology and has swept over Europe amid an influx of migrants and refugees. He has confirmed he exchanged emails with the suspected New Zealand shooter, who donated money to Sellner's group. But Sellner denies involvement in the attack.

Despite his background, the Kootenai County Republican Central Commit-

tee passed a resolution urging the federal government to allow Sellner into the United States. The resolution said the government revoked Sellner's travel privileges "for political reasons," and demanded those privileges be reinstated.

Faced with criticism for¡ giving Pettibone a platform, Kootenai County GOP Chair Brent Regan blamed the press. " In its lust for scandal, the media has stretched the committee's simple act of kindness into headlines that are too bizarre to be fiction," he wrote in a recent op-ed.

Also last month, The Guardian published internet chats from 2017 in which a Washington state legislator and three other men discussed confronting "leftists" with a variety of tactics, including violence, surveillance and intimidation.

The messages prompted Washington House Democrats to demand that the Republican lawmaker, Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane Valley, be reprimanded for a history of far-right speech and activities.

While Shea did not propose violence, he did not speak up when violence was proposed, Democrats said.

House Republican Leader J.T. Wllcox of Yelm responded that Shea should not be punished before investigations are completed. The House, led by Democrats, will conduct an independent investigation of the lawmaker.

Shea, who rarely speaks to reporters, did not return numerous messages from The Associated Press.

He has served in the state House since 2008, introducing bills to criminalize abortion and roll back gun laws and pushing for eastern Washington to secede from the rest of the state. The military veteran attracted international attention in 2018 after a document he wrote laid out a "biblical basis for war" against people who practiced same-sex marriage and abortion, and instructed: "If they do not yield, kill all males."

In a third case, a nationwide arrest warrant was issued in May for a Stevens County, Wash., man who allegedly tried to extort members of his right-wing militia group through anonymous writ¡ ten threats backed by insinuations they came from a Mexican drug cartel.

James "Russell" Bolton, 51, faces at least six charges of extortion and attempted theft after he was arrested recently in West Virginia. Bolton has led a militia group called the Stevens County Assembly.

Stevens County detectives believe he was responsible for a series of anonymous threatening letters delivered to members of the group. The letters purported to come from a Mexican cartel and demanded large sums of cash in exchange for protection.

Hoover, the Gonzaga professor, said it is a mistake to consider all of the above as separate incidents.

"These are movements," Hoover said, noting participants are not doing this alone. "They have interconnectedness over the internet."

VOWME 154; No 354 WUWIOAHO~ T\TLSMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/lDAHOSTATESMAN TWITTER.COM/lDAHOSTATESMAN

NEWS All DAY YOUR WAY

I SUNDAY JULY 14 2019

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$3

Idaho Statesman WILDLY SUCCESSFUL

llNA 8AAlCER 5-111 to the lo.hos-

YellOW·billed storks gather along standing water in the vast floodplain in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique as a male waterbuck walks through with others in the background. Waterbuck are the most numerous of the large mammals in the restored park after a 16-year war depleted its animals.

Idahoan helps bring animals back to national park in Mozambique

BY ROCKY BARKER

Special correspondent to the Jdallo Statesman GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK, MOZAMBIQUE

The success of wildlife restoration in one of Africa's wildest places becomes apparent at the end of a game drive at dusk.

Thousands of antelope graze across the huge floodplain stretching for miles along the Mussicadzi River, swelled with the waters of spring's Idai Cyclone. Shorebirds like storks, egrets, pelicans, hammerkops and crested cranes line the waterline just out of reach of the dozens of crocodiles on the

banks and under water.

Several hippos lounge in the water bellowing as the sun sets next to towering Mount Gorongosa 40 miles.away.

Most of the antelope are waterbuck, an elk-sized animal with a ring on its rump. Like all the large mammals, waterbuck had been decimated by soldiers anc\ professional poachers down to a few hundred after the civil war that lasted from 1977 to 1992. Today there are more than 50,000.

This conservation success story is the result of a partnership betwt;en Idahoan.

Greg Carr and the Mozambican

Liz Littman, assistant director of Zoo Boise, talks with Greg Carr, center, a Sun Valley philanthropist who made millions in the 1980s and 1990s as a tech entrepreneur and has partnered with the Mozambique SEE PARK, SA government to restore Gorongosa National Park, and Vasco Galante, the park's communications director.

FROM PAGE 1A

The agreement has been extended to 2043.

The park has been expanded to include Mount Gorongosa. In addition to government. They sig_ned building clinics, sct,.ools a 20-year agreement m and programs to empower 2004 to restore the park young girls, Gorongosa and to improve the lives has its tourism, a coffee of the 150,000 people business and farm prowho live around it. grams. Plans for fruit and Gorongosa Warden cashew businesses are Pedro Muagura used to also in the works. come to the park before "Our philosophy is that when he was in forwe're here now, we're estry school. here forever," Carr said.

"I used to come here Africa's extreme poverwithout seeing a waterty its civil wars, corrupbuck in three days," ti~n and weather disasters Muagura said. "You might drive many outsiders to see an elephant or a bufdespair or resignation. falo once in two or three But Carr has instead months. To me, this is chosen hope. excellent improvement."

His foundation has Lion numbers jumped never contributed less to more than 100 in 2018 than $4 million annually, when at least 30 cubs and it often gives much were born. The elephant more to the Gorongosa population, which had Project. Its overall ~o~dropped from more than mitment is $160 million, 2,500 animals to fewer . which has attracted partthan 300, are now estiners worldwide, including mated at 650. the United States Agency Hippos, down from a for International pre-war population of Development.

3,500 to 160, has risen to Steve Bums, former 550. zoo Boise director and current director of the THEIDAHO Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake CONNECTION TO City, first came to GoGORONGOSA rongosa in 2007.. He startCarr, the 60-year-old ed the conservation proentrepreneur who grew up gram that has ~ade Zoo in Idaho Falls and now Boise a partner m G?¡ lives in Sun Valley, made rongosa's conservation millions in the 1980s and program.

1990s as a tech entrepre"We would go out on neur. He began his philangame drives and see no thropic efforts supporting mammals but lots of human rights including birds," Bums said. the Anne Frank Humane Carr's human rights Rights Memorial in Boise. background, commitment "He brought us knowto science and relentle~ ledge, he brought us optimism in the face of money, and he brought us overwhelming challenges education," Muagura has brought Gorongosa said. back, he said.

"This wouldn't have happened if not for Greg," Bums said.

PARK

BOISEANS NAME NEW LION PRIDE Muagura leads a ranger force of 260 - including 11 women - who patrol the park to prevent poaching and also work with wildlife researchers and the surrounding communities. When the cyclone hit, the rangers became first responders who rescued families stranded on termite mounds and roofs surrounded by flood wa-

TINA BARKER Special to I~ Idaho Stetesm;,n

Greg Carr ~ith dignitaries, rangers, staff and Zoo Boise supporters at a ceremony in June ~rkmg the tourist season's start at Gorongosa National Park. Carr and the Mozambican government are working to restore the park and help those who live near it. ters. They helped feed as many as 80,000 in a program that continues

WITH CONSERVATION SUCCESS COMES NEW DEBATE

today.

Biologists augmented the populations with reintroductions from parks across Africa for species that were gone or bad such low numbers they couldn't grow. These included elephants, hippos, buffalo, wildebeests and zebras. These populations have grown, but there are noticeable changes from the historic

The resurgence of wildlife became apparent for Zoo Boise supporters who visited the park in late June, who me and my wife Tina accompanied for much of their trip. On one game drive, two girls1 Lucy Tiscomia of Seattle and Olivia Peterson of Boise, spotted a pride of three lions on a kill.

It turned out to be a new pride never seen before. The discovery gave the girls the right to name them. They called them Lucia, Aries and Monte.

"It was exciting," Peterson said. "They were just off the road."

We drove by the lion researchers in the dark as they waited for one of the lions, which they had just fitted with a radio collar, to wake up. The vehicle was stationed between the darted lion and the other two, with a ranger standing on top with a gun in case a problem arose.

mix.

For instance, water buffalo were the most abundant large game at more than 13,000 in 1972. In a 1977 photo, they covered the floodplain by the thousands the way the waterbuck do now. The park released 210 buffalo since 2006, and today there are more than 1,000. But it is the waterbuck that have taken over.

With the dramatic comeback, many of the same scientific debates and conflicts westerners have faced in Yellowstone National Park and Idaho have arisen here. Now that waterbuck have taken the place of buffalo in the wetlands and the savanna of t_h e Great Rift, some

biologists argued for more predators like leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs to control surging antelope populations.

In 2018, a pack of 14 wild dogs was brought to the park from South Africa. The first leopard since the war was sighted in March of last year.

But not all scientists at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory in the park think more predators are the silver bullet for managing the growing herds of antelope including impalas, bushbuck, lcudu, nyala and sable said Josh Daskin, a ceton Ph.D. candidate.

Some believe, as one group of scientists at Yellowstone argued in the

Prin-

1980s, that the large grazing mammals and the ecosystem will regulate the populations by food availability and disease.

BOTH SIDES HOPE TO GET ANSWERS "It's very rare we can do this kind of research over an entire ecosystem," Daskin said.

Bushbuck, a usually solitary antelope that traditionally stayed in the forest, are routinely seen now out in the open on the savannah since few predators threaten them.

Researchers from the University of Idaho, Ryan Long and Hallie Walker, were chasing bushbuck with a land cruiser to place radio collars on them to study their movements now that wild dogs are back. They use a hel-

icopter for kudu.

\

In other parts of Africa ¡ wild dogs are as popular with livestock owners as wolves are here. Two Mozambicans said the park did not confer with surrounding residents when they decided to bring the colorful dogs back to the park. That could come back to bite the park as their numbers grow if they leave the park and eat livestock, one resident said.

USING SCIENCE TO REDUCE CONFLICT Already elephants have become a major problem for subsistence farmers living along the Pungwe River acts as a boundary between the park and the buffer zone. The day we visited the village of Vinho, 30 elephants had crossed the river stomping down fields of maize or com, the main crop, causing mayhem.

The number of school children at the nearby school built by the Carr Foundation has dropped, said its administrator Lionel Jose Domingos.

He's not sure whether the drop is due to the elephants or the cyclone. But people say that "Mr. Greg's elephants" are driving people away.

The park turned to Long's team of scientists, including U of 1 master's student Paola Branco. She was studying different co~unity-based approaches to reducing crop raiding by elephants outside the park.

She discovered the use of beehive fences, a series ¡ of beehives connected by ropes along the river at elephant crossings. ¡ The elephants would leave the park and cross the PungweRiver, hit the ropes and the swarming bees would attack, making the elephants turn tail and return to the park.

"Paola's research found that beehive fences were very effective and could reduce the probability of elephants crossing the Pungwe River to raid crops by up to 92%," Long said. "The Conservation Department at Gorongosa recently began large-scale deployment of beehive fences at elephant crossings all along

the Pungwe River to help mitigate human-elephant conflict."

But challenges persist. ' Poachers have stolen some of the beehive fences to raise honey for themselves. Rangers arrested eight poachers one night while we were there.

The extreme poverty Mozambique's income per capita is the eighth lowest in the world - makes some people desperate, Warden Maugura said.

The key is increasing opportunity with more jobs, more effective farming practices, more schools, more clinics and a stronger connection with the park, he said.

"Folks need to consider the elephants 'our elephants,' not Mr. Greg's or Pedro's," Muagura said.

77 How ~ Coming Monday: starting a coffee business on a sacred mountain is putting people to work, saving the rainforest and elping to forge a long-term ce in Gorongosa.

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People ravaged by civil war ftnd new life in coffee fields

- '-Ao,

PHOTOS BY ROCKY BARKER special to the Idaho Statesman

A Mozambican working with coffee beans recently harvested along the slopes of Mount Gorongosa in Gorongosa National Park.

wild animals in the wake of a 16-year civil war. The Gorongosa Restoration Project began in 2004 as a partnership between Mozambique and Carr's foundation. Carr is originally from Idaho Falls but now makes his home in Sun Valley.

The Gorongosa Project has built schools, clinics and a tourism business that puts residents to work. It also enrolls 2,000 girls from 12 to 16 years old in an innovative program aimed at empowering

BY ROCKY BARKER

Special corrtsp0ndent to the Idaho Statesman GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARJC, MOZAMBIQUE

The coffee fields of Mount Gorongosa grew out of Idaho philanthropist Greg Carr's hope - hope to improve the lives of the people and wildlife that surround the park through the government and its partners.

In June, more than 180 local residents harvested high-quality Arabica beans from the slopes of the 6,112-foot granite massif that rises out of the park's forests and savannas into the clouds that feed its lush rainforest. Below in Vila Gorongosa, another 85 people worked in the factory that processes the coffee beans for export sales.

The coffee project is one of many development programs

them to further their educa-

Lucy Tiscornia of Seattle takes a selfie with members of the Nhanbita girls club and her friend Oliva Peterson of Boise during a tour of the buffer zone around Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.

Gorongosa operates to lift up the lives of the 150,000 Mozambicans who live around

Gorongosa National Park, which has gone through a breathtaking restoration of its

tion. The project has overcome a resumption of the war and one of the worst cyclones to hit central Mozambique in history.

The reduction in poaching along with reintroductions of predators like wild dogs and large mammals, including elephants, wildebeests and water buffalo, has restored the park to some of the glory it had SEE COFFEE, SA

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Matt Jordan, who runs ag programs for Gorongosa National Park, shows off the coffee trees that are helping to bring income and jobs to local residents. The crops protect the valuable rainforest of Mount Gorongosa. with its summit in the clouds in the background.

FROM PAGE 1A

COFFEE before the war. Back then the park attracted film ' stars and the rich and famous from around the world to safari.

The project has been extended for another 25 years. But its ultimate success will be decided by how well it helps some of ~e lowest income people m the world advance and how well it keeps Mount .

Gorongosa healthy.

The mountain's rainforests capture the cloud's moisture that fill the rivers to nourish the sur~ounding area. It also is unportant spiritually to the indigenous people who live on and around it.

As the base of the armed opposition, it remains a driving force of Mozambique politics.

EMPOWERING GIRLS CLUBS IN MOZAMBIQUE The effects of that war can .be seen everywhere.

A schoolhouse, with its roof blown off and walls falling down, sits at the turnoff to the village of ~anbita. We went to the ~age to see one of the girls clubs in action. ~en we arrived, a dozen girls sang and danced to welcome us dressed in clothes ranging from tattered T-shirts and shorts to long colorful skirts.

Larissa Sousa, Gorongosa's head of girls education, explained the girls are chosen from the most vulnerable families.

They meet before school to learn about opportunities beyond subsistence farming, hygiene, human rights, conservation and literacy.

"It is said when you educate the woman, you educate the nation because she makes sure you will educate her own kids," Sousa said.

The girls also are given a time to play, something many can't do because of the burden of chores and duties they have in their society, Sousa said. Many would otherwise marry and have children early under pressure from their fathers who would give them to a husband for gifts.

The program also has "promoters," young men and women in the village who are trained to help the girls and give them more opportunity. Older

married women in the community with influence, called madrinhas or godmothers, also are recruited to counsel the families to keep their girls in school.

Many of the residents of the buffer zone never visit the park. They have no idea about conservation and the connection between the animals and the new jobs that have been created in tourism education, health and ' park management. Part of the program introduces the girls to this unknown world.

"We bring them to the park and show them all the careers they can aspire to," Sousa said.

INTO AFRICA We drove up a steep, greasy single track in the rain to examine the coffee project and climb down to the spectacular Murombodzi Falls.

We were being watched by the sparkling eyes of the smiling residents we passed and by those who helped us when we got stuck in the mud. But unseen were RENAMO (Resistencia Nacional Mo~ambicana) rebels, armed opponents of the government who went back to war in 2013, angry the peace terms that ended the 16-year-old civil war weren't realized.

"They know you're here," said Matt Jordan, associate director of Gorongosa 's ag program.

Gorongosa has remained neutral in the conflict between RENAMO and the ruling party FRELIMO, (Frente de Libertafao de Mofarnbique) Jordan said, a young American who previously served in the Peace Corps in Mozambique and oversees the coffee project.

But even before the conflict reignited in 2013, many residents of the mountain were skeptical about the Gorongosa Project and its addition to the park in 2010. The park's scientists said protection of the rainforest, which catches 79 inches of rain annually, was pivotal to restoring and preserving the entire 2.5 million acre ecosystem, including the 900,000acre park.

Farmers would use primitive slash and burn

Larissa Sousa, right, heads the girls education program at Gorongosa National Park.

''

WE THINK PEOPLE ON THIS MOUNTAI~ CANMAKE ALIVING FOR THEMSELVES. Matt Jordan, associate director ofGorongosa's ag program agriculture to grow mostly maize on its slopes. When the soil was exhausted, they would move up the mountain and start again.

Pedro Maugura, then the project's forester and now Gorongosa 's warden, discovered wild coffee on the mountain and suggested farmers instead grow coffee, which grows in the shade of native trees and coexists with the rainforest.

Gorongosa hired Quentin Haartoff, who bad set up coffee businesses in other African countries after he was driven from bis native Zimbabwe farm by government troops. He developed the pilot project at the same time the civil war came back to the mountain.

COFFEE PEACEMAKING IN THE RAINFOREST The civil war that began in 1977 and lasted until 1992 killed hundreds of thousands of people in often gruesome violence.

Much of the fighting took place in and around Gorongosa, which killed off most of the large mammals and left the human community even worse off than before. The two parties made peace and held elections after 1992, which FRELIMO repeatedly won amid charges of

ry," he said.

The coffee team continued planting trees and caring for the trees right up to the time the troops arrived and told them they had to leave.

"It was very dangerous," Jordan said. "There was a lot of things that happened, very bad things voter fraud. that happened to people." ¡ The peace broke down The mountain was in 2012, and RENAMO closed by the troops until May 2017, when a new leader Afonso Dhlakama moved back to the moun- cease-fire was negotiated.

The Gorongosa team tain and set up a headwent up immediately to quarters and training center. In 2013, the consee the homes and crops flict began with deadly were gone. But what about the coffee? attacks on government forces, forcing Gorongosa "The coffee was inemployees to flee the visible because the grass park. A ceasefire was had grown, but we didn't reached in 2014, but it fe11 lose a single plant that through and continued year," Jordan said. conflict forced Gorongosa That became a turning to close the park to toupoint in the effort to get rism in 2015. the farmers on board..

The coffee pilot project They held a meeting later that summer. went forward despite the "Hundreds of people conflict. Coffee trees were came from all over these planted in 2015 that areas where we had not would take four years to provide beans. They were talked to a soul," Jordan said. "They all came and planted below the optisaid they wanted to be mum elevAtion because RENAMO told them to stay out of their territory.

Many farmers rejected the idea of planting coffee due to the uncertainty of the conflict and distrust, Jordan said. In 2016, federal groups rolled up the mountain with tanks, destroying most of the houses and crops on the upper slopes.

The mostly RENAMO supporters were forced to run with their families and hide in the bush for weeks and months, Jordan said.

"Every single person here, that was their sto-

part of the project."

CREATING A PEACE PARK IN GORONGOSA Talks continue between RENAMO and FRELIMO to try to forge a final peace agreement that would disarm and demobilize the rebels and reintegrate them into society. Gorongosa would help find jobs for the ex-combatants, Carr said.

The idea that Gorongosa could serve as a "Peace Park" by reintegrating the RENAMO fighters into society goes back to the early days of the partnership. RENAMO's former leader Dhlakama died in 2018 of natural causes. Its current leader, Ossufo Momade, went into hiding, presumably on the mountain.

A new agreement could be signed between Momade and Mozambique President and FRELIMO leader Filipe Nyusi as early as August.

Jordan said they regularly meet with RENAMO leaders, in a spirit of civility, community and respect. He described how the current relationship sits in the words of a RENAMO commander: "'You can do coffee, just stay out of the forest,"' Jordan quoted him.

But Jordan hopes when a peace treaty is signed, the coffee project and other agroforestry projects that produce pineapples, bananas and other fruit in between the coffee trees will help integrate the former fighters into society.

Tourism also can contribute as people become guides and porters to show off the mountain's wonders, Jordan said.

"We think people on this mountain can make a living for themselves," he said.

RAINFOREST COFFEE IN BOISE Boise residents will be able to buy Gorongosa Rainforest Coffee at Zoo Boise. Carr also has purchased property in the Wood River Valley for a Gorongosa Coffee house, Jordan said. The peace talks themselves have led to a promising potential market.

Mirko Manzoni, the Swiss ambassador to Mozambique who is moderating the peace talks, introduced Jordan to ¡officials at Nespresso, which is expected to sell the coffee worldwide.

The park hopes to buy beans from 1,000 families and eventually triple the growers to provide a living for 2,500 families.

Most of these farmers are growing within the boundaries of the expanded national park on the lands they have had in their families for generations.

Carr said adding the mountain to the park was not to push the indigenous people off but to improve farming practices and stop gold mining after destructive prospecting had started.

"We are not against the indigenous people," Carr said. "They are protecting the mountain like we are."

"They are our partners."

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Idaho Statesman icans, hombills, hammerkops and buzzards, was overwhelming.

Did I mention the crocodiles, hippos and warthogs ?

Zoo Boise is taking another group later this summer, and its development director Rachel Winer tells me the zoo plans to sponsor two trips again in 2020.

During 10 days in June, I saw They are a chance to see in person the conservation that 10 it as I tagged along with Liz percent of your entrance fee Littman, assistant director of into the zoo has accomplished.

Zoo Boise and a group of the Beginning Wednesday, Boise zoo's supporters. residents and visitors will get to The game drives were specsee a taste of Gorongosa withtactllar. The group watched out having to fly to Africa as the lions on a kill. Some saw eleGorongosa exhibit opens in the phants in the thick, tropical forest. Others saw several of the zoo. I got a sneak preview, and it's a great walking safari. colorful wild dogs taking dust Carr, 60, who grew up in baths and frolicking as others Idaho Falls, cut his teeth in guarded the den where a new human rights work after he set of pups were growing. made his forttme selling his All of us saw thousands of ground-breaking voicemail antelope, waterbuck, impala, nyala, kudu bushbuck and sable services company. So while the in the wild park. The menagerie park and its wildlife have been the focus of the dozens of of exotics birds, yellow-billed and saddled-billed storks, crestSEE SUSTAINABILITY, 3A ed cranes, egrets, eagles, pel-

Idahoan's efforts a model for sustainability in Africa .

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BY ROCl(Y BARKER

Special correspo11dmt for tht Idaho Statesma11

TINA BARKER Special to the Idaho Statesma n

Greg Carr, the Sun Valley philanthropist who has partnered with the Mozambique government to restore Gorongosa National Park, stands wit h local dignitaries, rangers, staff and Zoo Boise supporters at a ceremony celebrating the start of the tourist season in June.

Idahoan Greg Carr's patience and perseverance has transformed an ecosystem in the face of poverty, war, resignation and climate change.

Carr's partnership with Mozambique has succeeded in restoring Gorongosa National Park to one of Africa's great safari experiences. But it took a willingness to take what nature and men alike threw at them and innovation to make the park the place it's become - to attract the necessary visitors requir ed to pay for it.

Idaho Statesman

TUESDAY JULY 16 2019 IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM

News I FROM PAGE1A

SUSTAINABILITY stories about Gorongosa since he came in 2004, improving the lives of the 150,000 Mozambicans who live around the park has always been the focus.

"I like animals, but it's the people I really care about," Carr said.

The park restoration is clearly tied to the tourism business, which is the major job creator in Sofala Province now that a nearby sugar mill is closing.

Those jobs include rangers, park managers, tour guides, wildlife biologists, road crews, construction crews, chefs, cooks, bartenders, waiters and hotel staff. That doesn't count the scientists studying the ecosystem simply to add to the world's knowledge.

Then there are the schools, clinics and other local facilities Gorongosa has built throughout the 12 million-acre buffer zone. There are the programs like tht! girls clubs, which also train young men and women in the communities to support the 12-16 year old girls.

There are the eco clubs in the high schools that are so popular they must tum students away.

Then there are the other revenue producers, the coffee business, other agroforestry efforts, planned cashew and fruit businesses aimed at putting money in farmers' pockets and creating jobs.

This is conservation in the 20th century, and Carr has taken it to a new level. His investment in Mozambique bas already totaled $60 million, and

be bas committed another $100 million through 2043.

When I came to Africa for the first time in 1998, I looked at communitybased conservation programs like Zimbabwe's Communal Areas Management Program For Indigenous Resources, or Campfire, where hunters, through their outfitters, pay communities for the wildlife, which the communities

own.

I also looked at a similar arrangement around South Luanga National Park in Zambia and a less formal project at Nyika National Park in Malawi.

The debate over trophy bunting has reduced the income for Campfire communities, but I' m told South Luanga is flourishing.

Today the group African Parks, started in 2000, is managing 15 national parks across Africa in partnership with nine countries, including one in Mozambique. Its program is similar to Gorongosa. According to its website, "It maintains a strong focus on economic development arid poverty alleviation of surrounding communities to ensure that each park is ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable in the long-term." â&#x20AC;˘ Carr's biggest contribution has been his choosing of bright young Mozambicans, furthering their education and giving them opportunity. One of our guides, Tonga Torcida

3A

girls club program she runs. Her sister Michel is a student at BSU and an intern in the Gorongosa health department.

Gorongosa has the only master's program completely within a national park. One of its students, Memarlita - Matos, also attended Boise State and camped on Lucky Peak at the lnMemarlita termounMatos tain Bird ROCKY BARKER special to the lclaho Statesman ObservatoMiguel Uassiquete, a Moputo, Mozambique media executive, looks at the entrance sign ry. Now she is researching how local communities of Gorongosa National Park in the Portuguese language used there. are interacting with the park.

"I am trying to understand how we can capture traditional knowledge and beliefs and use it to work with local communities to conserve biodiversity," she told me in an email.

The challenges for sustainable development and conservation over the century are huge, and Gorongosa has seen all of Courtesy of Rocky and Tina Barker it in the last few years.

Rocky and Tina Barker at Climate change is a conROCKY BARKER special to the Idaho Statesman Murombodzi Falls on tributor to the two giant Mount Gorongosa. cyclones that hit MozamA crew of Zoo Boise supporters cross the bique this year. The civil crocodile-infested Punqoe River in a small boat. war flared up again, and planning. today residents await a permanent peace agreeDominique Goncalves an encyclopedic knowfirst met Greg when he runs Gorongosa's element. ledge of the park's wildwas 15. "Mr. Greg," as These young people and phant research program life and plants, had to he's called, came to some of the young people and is a National Gelearn Swahili in four Mount Gorongosa to ographic fellow. She stud- who were on the Zoo months because classes climb Murombodzi Falls, Boise trip give me hope one of the toughest short were in that language. But ied at Boise State University and was in London the world can find its way hikes I've ever done. Tor- Torcida speaks seven the crises ahead. Greg working on her doctorate cida guided him. languages, so it wasn't Carr offers us the model. when we visited.

He began working in hard.

Editor's note: The Carr Then there is Larissa the park and used his first He got his bachelor's Foundation helped fund Sousa, the head of the year's wages to buy his degree in wildlife management and came back girls education program, a some of Rocky Barker's parents a house on the mountain. Later, the Carr to guide as a way to make bright natural leader, who expenses to travel to Mozambique to tell these stogave a rousing speech in money for graduate Foundation paid for him Washington, D.C., along ries. school. He eventually to attend college in Tanwith Goncalves about the wants to get into park zania. Torcida, who has

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

July 22, 2019 Dr. Marlene Tromp President's Office Boise State University 1910 W University Drive Boise, Idaho 83725 Dear President Tromp: As non-governmental non-profit organizations that have worked for decades in Idaho promoting human and civil rights while at the same time joining other Idahoans and political leaders to successfully confront the serious threats by the neo-Nazi Aryan Nations when they targeted members of Idaho's minority communities, we have learned a number of important lessons.

The following are some of those lessons learned: 1. It was essential not to remain silent when messages and acts of hate arose in our state and also to become allies of those who became victims of that hate.

2. Our successes in confronting these dangers were significantly aided by the support from political leaders of both major political parties, the faith community, educational institutions, and the business community to name a few.

3. We have worked with K-12 schools and higher education to advance curricula, diversity programs and events to create a more welcoming and safe environment for each student.

4. We have spent years traveling and communicating with communities and the media across America sharing the true values of Idahoans rather than the erroneous image portrayed by the actions and crimes of ~he neo-Nazis.

5. Numerous local and Idaho state government entities, chambers of commerce, business sponsored groups such as Jobs Plus in Kootenai County and educational leaders Contributions to the KCTFHR are _.- tax deductible P. 0. BOX 2725 Coeur d 'A l e n e, I D 838 1 6 (208) 765-3932 www. id ahoh uman rights .org

have worked diligently for years to recruit corporations as well as college administrators, faculty and students with diverse backgrounds to Idaho.

6. Many of us who are or have been educators have decades of experience and research as to the extraordinary value that the implementation of cultural diversity curricula, programs and events enhance learning for our students as they prepare to enter an ever-growing diverse world.

7. And most importantly, we are committed to a future that finds ways to end the discrimination, bigotry and stereotyping that has often marginalized the work and cultural values of minority communities in our country. To correct these injustices, the answer partially lies in the willingness of Idaho's colleges and universities to create greater diversity in curricula, programs and events for students from Idaho's dominant culture so that they have the opportunity to experience the richness found in other cultures. If we are going to create a world of understanding and appreciation based on social justice, we cannot retreat into the ways of thinking and doing from the past.

We were highly concerned and deeply troubled when we learned of the letter to your office from 28 Idaho state legislators objecting to the outstanding framework that Boise State University has developed and embraced to make your campus a safe, accepting, friendly and inclusive environment. To do otherwise, would result in a major setback for a campus that cherishes social justice for all its students, employees and visitors.

If all Idaho institutions of higher learning were to disband their present commitment to these educational principles and mission, it will have serious consequences far into Idaho's future creating a major set back on (1) our long struggle to correct the unfair image we suffered when the Aryan Nations relocated to Idaho in 1973, (2) a message would go out to potential out of state students that Idaho Is not a warm and welcoming place for minority students (3) Idaho leaders working to recruit corporations to Idaho with a diverse work force would find their

2

task much more difficult and in some cases impossible, and (4) instate students would lose that valuable opportunity to experience a niore diverse learning environment.

Dr. Tromp, we stand In unity and support with Boise State University's ,o utstanding mission that provides a world-class education for all its students.

Sincerely, tenai County Task Force on Human Relations

[J;~U;~

h{ ltie Wood, president

Bonner County Human Rights Task Force Brenda Ham,mond, president (208-290-7961) Human Rights Education Institute JoAnn Harvey, president (208-772-2409) Boundary County Human Rights Task Force Craig Kelson, president (208) 669-2252

CC: Idaho State Board of Education Dr. C. Scott Green, president, University of Idaho Dr. Kevin Satterlee, president, Idaho State University Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, president, Lewis-Clark State College Dr. Richard MacLennan, president, North Idaho College Dr. Bert Glandon, president, College of Western Idaho Dr. Jeff Fox, president, College of Southern Idaho Dr. Rick Aman, president, College of Eastern Idaho

3

The Press, Saturday, July 27, 2019

NORTH IDAHO: Nez Perce Tribe sues over dam deal / C3

Education narrative dangerous to Idaho A troublesome narrative has emerged in our state that is increasingly critical of postsecondary education.

If this narrative takes hold, we risk endangering the future economic prosperity and quality of life in our great state.

This threat is especially dangerous if .......... our young OPINION people buy into th is narrative.

After all, it's their future success in school, work and life that is at stake.

Rod Last week Gramer a letter emerged My written Turn by 28 legislators,

eight of them from the House Education Committee, and three members of House leadership, critical of Boise State University's diversity programs. Then a cartoon postcard hit lawmakers' mailboxes depicting BSU's new president, Marlene Tromp, as a clown and mocking members of the State Board of Education.

Here's why this narrative is so troublesome: Idaho needs at least 60 percent of its 25-34-yearold workers to hold a postsecondary credential - a workforce-ready certificate, a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor's degree.

Unfortunately, only 42 percent of our workforce in Idaho holds one of these credentials giving Idaho one of the least-educated workforces in the country.

If we don't achieve the 60 percent goal, our existing businesses will have difficulty finding the educated workers they need to grow, it will be more difficult to attract new, well-paying jobs to our state and we even risk losing existing businesses to other states with a more educated workforce.

Simply put, we cannot build the workforce and bright future Idaho needs without a vibrant postsecondary system of education.

Yet the critics mock our education institutions while we struggle to get more of our high school students to go on to postsecondary. In fact, See MY TURN, C&

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Saturday, July 27, 2019

The Press

MY TURN from C1

that struggle is not getting any easier as our go-on rate direct out of high school dropped to 45 percent in 2018 after plateauing at 48 percent for several years.

Here's another thing troubling about the recent narrative regarding BSU's diversity efforts. We won¡t build the workforce we need if we don't get more economically disadvantaged, Hispanic and American Ind ian students to go on to postsecondary.

That's because these low-income and minority students are the fastestgrowing population in Idaho's schools. ln southern Idaho especially many school districts are majority-minority and others are headed that way.

If these students go on, they are generally first-generation college students. They need some of those extra services that BSU was criticized for providing to ensure that they successfully navigate the system and brraduate with a degree that leads to ~ goo~.career. Leading umvers1t1cs across the country are doing the same to ensure firstgeneration students graduate.

Critics say Idaho's postsecondary institutions are spending too much and putting too much of the financial burden on students.

What they don't tell you is that state support for postsecondary as a percentage of the overall cost has been dropping for decades.

In 1980, the state of ldaho picked up 88.l percent of higher education¡s cost. while families picked up 7.2 percent. In fiscal year 2020, the state will be picking up 50.6 percent of the support for higher education while students and families will be picking up 46.5 percent.

Even the federal government is supporting our institutions of higher learning more than the state is with its general funds. In 2019, the institutions received $397 million in federal grants, contracts and student financial aid compared to the $370 million the state contributed.

What the critics also don't tell you is how much gross state product our colleges and universities generate for the state. In 20132014, the postsecondary institutions generated $4.1 billion - that's right, billion - in gross state product, equal to 7 percent of the state's total GSP. What the critics also don't tell you is that not only does the state get enriched by the work of our postsecondary institutions - so

do the students. On average, a person with a postsecondary degree can expect to earn $1 million more over their lifetime than someone without a degree.

1n fiscal year 2013-14, the cumulative financial contribution of former college students working in Idaho amounted to $3.1 billion of the state's GSP. By the way, people with postsecondary education are also more likely to save taxpayers money over their lifetime - savings in health care, social services and criminal justice - than citizens with less education. They are also more likely to vote, volunteer in their community and donate to charity.

Another thing the critics of the postsecondary institutions don't tell you is that they themselves are doing little to contribute to saving students money or strengthening our institutions so they can continue enriching Idaho.

Of the 28 legislators who sent the letter to President Tromp criticizing the school's diversity programs, 16 voted against the general fund budget that supports our postsecondary institutions. And 27 of the 28 signers voted against funding the Opportunity Scholarship, which helps thousands of Idaho's kids pay for college. This scholarship is the only state-funded scholarship these students have to make their version of the American Dream come true.

Does postsecondary education cost students too much? Yes. Can the institutions figure out a way to keep costs down? Yes. Does the state do enough to make postsecondary more affordable for our students. No. Today's lawmakers carry considerably less of the financial load compared to the generations of lawmakers before them.

In terms of dollars, in 2019 they contribute even less than the federal government.

In short, they do comparatively little

considering the economic return the state gets from having a more educated citizenry and world-class institutions that contribute billions of dollars to the state gross product.

The real danger here is that the people of Idaho will fall for these critics' false narrative.

If that becomes our fate, then the losers won't be the critics, the losers will be the students, businesses, taxpayers and people of Idaho.

Rod Gramer is president of Idaho Business for Education.

COEUR d' ALENE

Sunday July 28, .2 019

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Racism on rade?

Cd 'A Chamber 'regrets' local company's parade entry Owner dismisses concerns his float's imagery was racist Cour1e.qy of J,m vaientne

The General Lee, a replica of the Iconic 'Dukes of Hazzard' car, leads a dump truck from Dixie Services. Both vehicles, owned by Jim Valentine, display the Confederate flag, a symbol offensive to many African-Americans.

By CRAIG NORTHRUP Staff writer

COEUR d'ALENE - An

entry in the Fourth of July parade has sparked anger and salted old woW1ds in what's being decried as a blatant display of racism in Coeur d' Alene's otherwise wholesome annual tradition.

Dixie Services, a ·post Falls company that does excavation and landscaping work, came under fire for its entry in this year's parade. Dixie owner Jim Valentine entered two vehicles representing his company through what he described as a "Southern truck-farming , . theme." The lead car was .. a replica of the General :·.-Lee, the iconic 1969 Dodge Charger from the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard," which aired from 1979 to 1985.

"Ours was actually a Crown Vic," Valentine said. "We took the Ford panels off of it, and we built ourselves a General

Lee over the winter." court and is awaiting The Valentine execution in Indiana. On version, like the original the day of his capture, General Lee, has a Roof confessed he horn that plays "Dixie," attacked the church, in and its roof is ~ part, to start a emblazoned with lnsade race war. a Confederate Calls to • Editorial: flag. The flag erase symbols Racist lessons continues to won't be lost on of Southern be a national North ldaho/A4 secession lightning rod, • Human Rights prompted seen by some communities Task Force as a symbol of replies to Boise to tear down racial divides monuments of State diversity that have plagued debate/A11 Confederate the country since leaders and before the Civil War. remove Confederate flags The television channel from state capitols. Two TV Land dropped "The years of contentious Dukes of Hazzard" from national debate would its lineup in 2015, citing once again explode into its display of the flag in violence, this time in each of the show's 147 Charlottesville, Va. episodes. That decision White supremacists came two weeks after marched in white supremacist and Charlottesville's Unite Confederate sympathizer The Right rally on Dylann Roof walked Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 into a Charleston, S.C., Confederate flags and church, produced a torches in hand - to gun and murdered nine protest the removal of black congregants. Roof the statue of Robert E. was convicted in federal Lee from a local park.

Counterprotesters clashed with the white supremacists until Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency on Aug. 12, effectively ending the march. A Unite The Right attendee named James Fields Jr. - a white supremacist purported to all but have grown up wrapped in the Confederate flag plowed his Dodge into a crowd of retreating counter-protesters, injuring 28 and killing 32-year-old Heath.er Heyer. Fields was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 419 years.

To Valentine, the Confederate flag is a symbol that sidesteps the idea of racism because it predates American slavery.

"It's really St. Andrew's Cross," he said. "It's the flag of Scotland, really. Nothing more. Later on, the

Confederacy used it in their flag to ten •you to watch out for the Union Army."

The flag of Scotland, also known as St. Andrew's Cross - a heraldic device referred to as the Saltire - is a pair of white stripes diagonally crossing a light blue background.

The pattern is the same as the Confederate flag (which is technically the Confederate battle flag).

was immediately stunned by it. Of course, it was a topic of conversation as we were walking home. I was just in disbelief you would see something like that in public, let alone in public celebration."

"It" was Valentine's second vehicle in the parade down Sherman Avenue. Just behind the General Lee was a dump truck from Dixie Services' fleet. It had a Confederate flag fastened to the grill, along with 'Immediately stunned' a cartoon drawing of a To some, however, the smiling black child Confederate flag across the top of. Valentine's see PARADE, A3 General Lee was hardly the only concern. © Copyright 2019 T he Press "I live just down from Sherman," Matt Petersen Vol. 126, No. 161 remembered about his 5 sections $2.00 J uly 4 experience. "My family, my in-laws. they cdapreas.corn had met us here, and we all walked down to the parade route with our children to watch.

"Pretty much everybody who saw it

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The Press

PARADE

its "Picaninny Freeze."

The word "pickaninny" refers to a black child and from A1 traces its origins to the 17th century. The fifth holding a watermelon edition of Webster's New to match watermelon World College Dictionary imagery affixed to the calls it an offensive term rear of the truck. of contempt.

"Immediately when Valentine said he I got home I sent an didn't remember how email to the Chamber long he'd had the [of Commerce, which images on his trucks, organized the event], looking for perspective or but he acknowledged a some kind of explanation," brief, failed 2017 social Petersen said. "I assumed, media campaign aimed with these parades, there at shaming him into removing the signs. would be some kind of "[The sign is] vetting. But the Chamber something that reminds a did not respond to me. lot of people of a happier They're responsible for time," he said. "I know a the content of the parade, lot of people say slavery and it reflects on them was a terrible time for how they promote the Africans, and I'm sure it character of the city." was for some. But there Petersen later wrote a letter to the editor, which were good times. There was published in the July were good masters. There were happy Africans."

21 edition of The Press, in which he stated his A 'happier time' disdain for Valentine's Petersen rejects message.

Valentine's view.

'Nothing to get upset about' "[Valentine] deflects by Valentine objects. saying, 'It reminds me of "There's nothing racist a happier time,"' Petersen about it," Valentine said, adding that he has said, "just like there was never met Valentine. nothing racist about ['The "That's classic, standard Dukes of Hazzard']. This is cover a racist will use to just part of our business. have their dog whistles It's all just part of history, without having to own up part of our pasl As far as to the fact he obviously slavery goes, there's no does not think blacks are slaves anymore, so there's equals." nothing to get upset Stewart agreed with about."

Petersen.

Tony Stewart, "I've heard from a founder and secretary number of residents of the Kootenai County who were very upset," Task Force on Human Stewart said. "What I Relations, said Valentine's thought was so offensive explanation didn't hold was portraying and water. stereotyping young "When you find that African-American youth type of message, you have in such a prejudiced and to call it what it is. It's bigoted way. I was hoping racism," Stewart said. we had passed that time "Any time you demean when individuals would another race or minority be so demeaning against or community, any time minorities in our society. you degrade them, it It's just very, very sad." meets the definition of Stewart echoed the racism." sentiment Petersen The caricature of the expressed in his July 21 black child depicted on letter, questioning how Valentine's trucks - and inclusive Coeur d'Alene throughout his business makes its newcomers and - is an image that dates visitors feel. to the 1920s, when the ''It's a huge parade," Hendler Creamery Co. Stewart said. "We have used the depiction to sell many visitors coming in

Courtesy of Jim Valentine

A Dixie Services dump truck decorated for Coeur d'Alene's Fourth of July parade. Images depicting watermelon are attached to Its hull, and balloons mimicking watermelon stem from Its top.

from out of town, and it's a very diverse audience.

What was so sad for me was, a number of people attending from minority communities did see that [truck]. It must have been very painful for them to watch."

When asked what he imagines a person of color might say in response to the sight of his parade entry, Valentine said he would proactively encourage a minority to remain focused.

"I'd tell an African," he began, "heck, I go up to Africans all the time. and I tell them: Watch out for the race¡baiters.

Watch out for the CNNers.

Watch out for the Deep State people, the central government people. Watch out for people who are against the South and against Christian ideals.

Watch out for the social cleansing of the left and the people who want to take down our statues."

Valentine said he did not regret his parade entry. He considers people

easily offended.

"You can go into church or dress up in a suit or do something else that offends people," he said. "So what? And why should anybody be offended? It's so hard to talk about it, because there are some blacks out there, but if you're a minority or an African, this is the country you live in. [With] the freedoms we have and the progress we made, this is a great country."

The country - or, at least, the Coeur d'Alene business community - is reconsidering Valentine's participation in future parades. After a flood of calls and complaints into the Chamber of Commerce, president Steve Wilson said he and other city leaders were evaluating options to curtail potentially offensive parade entries.

The Chamber responds

On Friday, Wilson gave a written statement to The Press on behalf of

Sunday, July 28, 2019 f A3

Courtesy University of Maryland

Imagery from this 19209 advertisement selling an Ice cream treat la used by Dixie Services of Post Falls and was on display during Coeur d'Alene's Fourth of July parade, to the shock of some onlookers.

the Chamber: "The Fourth of July parade is the responsibility of the Chamber of Commerce.

This year there were over 90 parade entries.

Unfortunately one parade entry exhibited graphic displays that are totally inconsistent with the values of the Chamber or the celebratory intent of our parade. The Chamber, its sponsors and many volunteers strive to put on a family-oriented event respective of the key values of human dignity, inclusiveness. respect, integrity and equality.

We regret that we did not catch this display prior to the start of the parade. We are taking steps that will hopefully prevent such public displays in the future."

Valentine expressed disappointment at the Chamber's reaction.

"If the Chamber doesn't like somebody, what are we supposed to do?" he asked. "Just roll over or something'! There's this old image of racism here, this image if you move to Idaho we're going to burn crosses on your yard. There's this fear that people bow down to.

There's no racism here.

Our claim to fame here in Idaho is sticking to our guns. We appreciate being able to take part in

the parade and being part of the community. I just hope Idaho doesn't fold or become a hostage to the left.

"It's too bad, .. he continued. "Just one or two people has a problem, and it causes all this.

1 hope the Chamber of Commerce does some thinking on this."

While Petersen denounced¡ the message Valentine sent on July 4, he defended the Post Falls businessman's right to voice it.

"He clearly has the right to do this," Petersen said. ''and 1 absolutely support his right to spout his repugnant views. I think people like him live everywhere. The fact that it went unnoticed, or that The Press didn't get a big reaction [from locals] is troubling. Good peopll? live here, and we've dealt with this before. Coeur d'Alene has a history of white supremacist parades, and those people were shown they were not welcome."

"So many good citizens have worked so long to eradicate bigotry here," Stewart said, "going back to the '70s and the arrival of the Aryan Najions.

It's important for our residents to speak out when they see this kind of bigotry, discrimination, and prejudice."

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3. We have worked following is a response with K-12 schools and letter to the July 9, 2019 higher education to letter from 28-Idaho State advance curricula, Representatives to Dr. diversity programs and Marlene Tromp, president events to create a more of Boise State University, welcoming and safe regarding diversity environment for each curricula, programs and student. events at BSU. 4. We have spent years traveling and Dr. Marlene Tromp communicating with President's Office communities and the Boise State University media across America sharing the true values Dear President Tromp: of Idahoans rather than As non-governmental the erroneous image non-profit organizations portrayed by the actions that have worked and crimes of the neofor decades in Idaho Nazis. promoting human and 5. Numerous local and civil rights while at the Idaho state government same time joining other entities, chambers of Idahoans and political commerce, business leaders to successfully sponsored groups confront the serious such as Jobs Plus in threats by the neo-Nazi Kootenai County and Aryan Nations when educational leaders they targeted members have worked diligently ofldaho's minority for years to recruit communities, we have corporations as well as learned a number of college administrators. important lessons. faculty and students with The following are diverse backgrounds to some of those lessons Idaho. learned: 6. Many of us who 1. It was essential not are or have been to remain silent when educators have decades messages and acts of of experience and bate arose in our state research as to the and also to become allies extraordinary value of those who became that the implementation victims of that hate. of cultural diversity 2. Our successes curricula, programs and in confronting events enhance learning these dangers were for our students as they significantly aided by the prepare to enter an eversupport from political growing diverse world. leaders of both major 7. And most political parties, the faith importantly, we are community, educational committed to a future institutions, and the that finds ways to end business commun ity to the discrimination. name a few. C t,, bigotry and stereotyping OA YltJt'oL t,lep:. t- p c?.Jl e_ Editor's Note: The

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that has often marginalized the work and cultural values of minority communities in our country. To . correct these injustices, the answer partially lies in the willingness of Ictaho's colleges and universities to create greater diversity in curricula, programs and events for students from Idaho's dominant culture so that they have the opportunity to experience the richness found in other cultures.

If we are going to create a world of understanding and appreciation based on social justice, we cannot retreat into the ways of thinking and doing from the past.

We were highly concerned and deeply troubled when we learned of the letter to your ofllce from 28 Idaho state legislators objecting

to the outstanding framework that Boise State University has developed and embraced to make your campus a safe, accepting, friendly and inclusive environment. To do otherwise, would result in a major setback for a campus that cherishes social justice for all its students, employees and visitors.

If all Idaho institutions of higher learning were to disband their present commitment to these educational principles and mission, it will have serious consequences far into Idaho's future creating a major set back on (1) our long struggle to correct the unfair image we suffered when the Aryan Nations relocated to Idaho in 1973, (2) a message would go out to potential out

of state students that Idaho is not a warm and welcoming place for minority students (3) Idaho leaders workmg to recruit corporations to Idaho with a diverse work force would find their task much more difficult and in some cases impossible, and (4) instate students would lose that valuable opportunity to experience a more diverse learning environment.

Dr. Tromp, we stand in unity and support with Boise State University's outstanding mission that provides a world-class education for all its students.

BRENDA HAMMOND, president Bonner County Human Rights Task Force CHRISTIE WOOD, president Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

JoANN HARVEY,. president Human Rights Education Institute CRAIG KeLSON, president Boundary County Human Rights Task Force CC: Idaho State Board of Education Dr. C. Scott Green, president, University of Idaho Dr. Kevin Satterlee, president, Idaho State University Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, president, Lewis-Clark State College Dr. Richard Maclennan, president, North Idaho College Dr. Bert Glandon, president, College of Western Idaho Dr. Jeff Fox, president, College of Southern Idaho Dr. Rick Aman, president, College of Eastern Idaho

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Sunday, July 28, 2019

Opini n Editorial

Racist lessons ¡won't be lost . in North Idaho ,

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f anyone wants to argue about relics' . historical value vs. how they're perceived today, please go ahead.

While you're at it, toss in words or other symbols that might not have been offensive once upon a time but now can provoke heartache and acts of bloodshed; that mean something somewhere to someone and something completely different to sonieone somewhere else.

Debates on topics such as these have been raging for as long as humans have been able to articulate disagreement. Yeah, darn near forever.

People are going to disagree in degrees, from shades of gray to black and white.

They'll disagree based on their early family inculcation, their education, their religious beliefs, their friends, their enemies, their level of compassion, their grasp of logic, and -0f course, their inherent need to not be wrong. Ca 1d::.11~ uec). '" e"/Ct r 2,- e.

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So let's not quibble. Let's see if we can agree on something based on both common sense and common decency. .

North Idaho has never been a hotbed of racism, but a small cluster of mentally and socially unwell people calling themselves the Aryan Nations managed to alter that image on a global scale. Even now, years after their inglorious implosion, our region is sensitive to any insinuation that those racist coals haven't died out completely. Worse looms the {ear that whatever ¡drew racists here in the ¡ first place lingers still, with the potential to produce its poison all over again.

That's why depicting black children as melon-munching "pickaninnies" anywhere constitutes a colossal spasm not just of the brain, but of the soul - here more than most places thanks to the racists who squatted here before.

There is no rationalizing it, no excuse. To brandish that message with the Confederate flag in the heart of a Coeur d'Alene Independence Day parade serve~ only one healthy purpose: That by the pain it inflicts, it pulls good people together remembering at what great cost the freedom of speech has been won and preserved.

Because of where we've been as a community, we know where we never want to go again.

And nobody's going to win an argument suggesting otherwise.

Readers Write century. They were intended as explicit expressions of resistance to the movement for equal rights for African Americans. lf a southern boy from After reading the Sunday, Virginia understands July 28 edition of The Press, confederate monuments I found it ironic that on the and battle flags are racist, front page you published then certainly Northerners an article decrying a racist from the great state of float entry in the July 4 Idaho should be able to parade and an opinion understand this as well. piece on the lifestyle DAVID GUTHRIE section decrying the Seattle (visiting Coeur d'Alene) removal of statues depicting confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee. As a native Virginian whose heritage is in the South and once had a painting of Lee on his wall, even I have come to understand that such Sunday's Coeur d'Alene statues are less about Press had two extremely "heritage" and more important articles. The first about racism. as most of was the Coeur d'Alene editorial these monuments were entitled "Racist lessons won't be lost in North Idaho." constructed by white The second was the guest supremacists during opinion, "We support diversity the modern civil rights programs at Boise State," movement of the 20th signed by members of our Idaho community.

Idaho is such a homogeneous state, population wise, that our residents, particularly younger people, need to comprehend diversity.

We live in a changing world and a changing community.

Look around next time you are on Sherman Avenue.

People-watching can be most informative.

It might also help to turn off the "boob tube" and form our own opinions. Like it or not diversity is here, it's growing, it helps our community in numerous ways and it is right.

Thanks to the Coeur d'Alene Press for providing these opinions.

SYMBOLS: Southerner shares perspective

DIVERSITY: Important messages hit home

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PHIL WARD

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Racist entry taints parade

SHAWN VESTAL SPOKESMAN COLUMNIST

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'vVho, me?' bigot sullies CdA festivity At a parade, no less.

The Fourth of July celebration in Coeur d'Alene was marred this year by the presence of a grotty old racist image of a "pickaninny" eating a bright red slice of watermelon, flanked by Confederate flag imagery rolling down Sherman A~enue in the metaphorical footsteps of Richard Butler.

It was marred by the oversight failure of the Chamber of Commerce to allow an entrant with a public ~story of bigoted stunts, mcluding past controversy over the very same watermelon sign.

And it was marred further still by the idiotic defense offered by the man who paraded that image: "I know a lot of people say slavery was a terrible ti.me for Africans, and I'm sure it was for some," Jim Valentine told the Coeur d'Alene Press in an article published Sunday. "But there were good times. There were good masters. There were happy Africans."

Happy Independence Day, Lake City!

The chamber says it's going to try and do a better job of vetting parade entrants in the future, which is the least it can do. If there is any community that should be vigilant on this front, it is Coeur d'Alene, where the Aryan Nations used to parade downtown.

The Aryan Nations have gone away, and good riddance.

But it's one thing when the racists put on uniforms and goose-step and fly swastikas in their own parade. It's another entirely wh en the ugliness insinuates itself into the middle of a community parade, presented by a

See VESTAL, 2

VESTAL

one of his company trucks, creating a minor controversy. At Continued from 1 the time, he acted like he was innocently bumfuzzled by the business owner in a context criticism. where people assume the tacit "Is it the watermelon that's approval of organizers. bothering people?" Valentine Valentine is not some simple, asked a KHQ reporter in 2017. good-hearted Idahoan who's not "It's not the watermelon because racially sophisticated. He's an that's what ... that's what ... they unreconstructed bigot who seeks live down south and that's what attention for his ignorant they eat so I think what's re.ally provocations. More than a decade getting people is that smile on her ago, be riled up decent people face." when he put this on the And now here he is again. Same readerboard outside his business, sign. Sherman Avenue. Fourth of Dixie Services: "FEDS QUEERS J uly parade. Same faux FAGS YOUR IN IDAHO NOW." bumfuzzlement Nor was the Fourth of July Valentine embodies the parade his first time in the public representative species of our eye over his pickaninny sign - or racist moment - the "Who, me?" over his inane, racist defense of it racist; the no-racist-bones racist; Two years ago, he put the sign, an the racist who, in the manner of old ice cream advertisement, on the president, simply insists,

when their racism is noticed, that it is not racism at all, as an audience of fellow cretins cheers. . Check the online comments on this particular story, and there they are: furious, poorly spelled, ill-reasoned diatribes insisting that the "pickaninny'' sign is not racist It's the George Wallace argument, come back to life: The real racists are the people who notice the racism of racists.

Valentine's entry in the Coeur d'Alene parade consisted of two vehicles: a refurbished version of the General Lee from the ''Dukes of Hazzard," complete with the Confederate flag design, and a semitruck bearing another Confederate Flag prominently on its grill.

It included a sign that reads " 'Our' Ancestry.'" (Wonder who's

included in that "our''...)

And it included that old advertisement relying on racist stereotypes and images.

The Coeur d'Alene Press published a thorough storyabout the parade, including a wealth of moronic quotations from Valentine.

"There's nothing racist about it," be said.

"As far as slave.r y goes, there's no slaves anymore, so there's nothing to get upset about," he said.

The sign, he said, "reminds people of a happier time."

"Heck," he said, "I go up to Africans all the time and I tell them: Watch out for the race-baiters. Watch out for the CNNers. Watch out for the Deep State people, the central government people. Watch out for

people who are against the South and against Christian ideals.

Watch out for the social cleansing of the left and the people who want to take down our statues."

In a statement issued to the Press last week, the Chamber of Commerce said it didn't realize what Valentine was up to. If organizers were unaware of Valentine's history, that's one thing. If they didn't realize what he was parading through their downtown - didn't see it before or during and do something about it - then they should have.

And in the future, when celebrating the birth of the nation, they should take great care not to welcome him again.

CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5431 shawnv@spokesman.com

A4 I Friday, August 9, 2019

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/LEI IERS from A4

WELCOME: Honor Idaho dignitaries We are pleased to announce that the Idaho Hall of Fame will host is first reunion celebrating the more than 200 Idaho inductees presently in the IHF. The reunion will be on Friday, Sept.

13 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. The Idaho inductees consist of distinguished individuals, businesses/ corporations or nonprofits that have made major contributions to the state of Idaho, or the United States or internationally.

At the reunion, the IHF Board will recognize inductees from such categories as the scientific world, political leaders, Medal of Honor recipients, philanthropists, educators, public service, human rights activists, health care providers to name a few areas that are used by the IHF for its selection process based on service to humanity.

We invite the residents and organizations of beautiful Coeur d'Alene to extend a warm welcome to all these distinguished visitors to our city on Sept. 13.

Idaho Hall of Fame Dallas Cox, president Freeman Duncan, Board member Tony Stewart, Board member

COEUR cl' ALENE

Thursday September 19, 2019

Only hatred is unwelcome

By proclamation, Cd'A embraces diversity

By CRAIG NORTHRUP Staff Writer ,

COEUR d'ALENE - l\lavor Steve Widmyer joined local advocates this week in a push to decry hate speech and invite diversity into Coeur d'Alene.

During an unscheduled adclition to the City Council agenda Tuesday night, Widmyer read a statement affirming the city's dedication to what he cited as a nation's evolution into America's "melting pot." By proclamation. he also recognized Constitution Week, Sept. 17·23. ". The United States of America was conceived based on principles of inclusion and tolerance." he said.

"In the 18th and 19th centw·ies. the metaphors of a ·crucible' or ·smelting pot' were used to describe the fusion of different nationalities. ethnicities and cultures and were used together with concepts of the United States as an ideal republic and a new promised land, ultimately leading the United States being referred to as a 'n\elting pot' of djfferent cultures. origins and ethnicities to form a more perfect union. and thus a society of inclusion rather than exclusion."

The proclamation came as commtmity activist and Democratic , precinct committeeperson Laura Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations president Tenneson and Kootenai County Task

Christle Wood (left) and community activist Laura Tenneson accept Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer·s proclamation recognizing Christie Wood pn'~ented concerns to Constitution Week. Wood and Tenneson advocated for the city to See DIVERSITY, A6 adopt a welcoming Invitation for diversity.

For<Y on Hmnan RPl::1tions pre~i•i"D'

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Thursday, September 19, 2019

supremacist groups that reads, "We must secure the existence of our people from A1 and a future for white children." the council about a recent "I am concerned about influx of racist propaganda the racist actions we have into the area. F1yers and seen in our community postcards espousing race- recently," Tenneson said relate'1 conspiracy theories in her speech to the City and views have been Council. "The flyers, distributed throughout postcards and letters Kootenai County since distributed all bear the at least April, many same white nationalist containing "14 Words," sentiment: to secure a a slogan commonly used white nation and to stop by neo-Nazis and white white genocide."

DIVERSITY

Constitution Week During Widmyer's proclamation, he stressed Coeur d'Alene's dependence on its citizens' and visitors' diversity, saying, "[the city) wishes to affirm that it is a welcoming community to all and in no way sympathetic to any hateful actions or hate speech."

Wood concurred as she accepted the proclamation on behalf of the task force.

"The task force has enjoyed nearly 40 years of a great, strong

relationship with the city of Coeur d'Alene," she said. "We have lived through some trying times, but we have never lost focus on protecting our citizens. We support the self-evident truth that all persons are created equal."

The mayor's proclamation asked Coeur d'Alene citizens to "reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787, by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our Hberties, remembering tl1at lost rights may never be regained."

Tenneson said her need for the proclamation is considerably more personal.

"As a high schooler in Coeur d'Alene, I received mailings from the Aryan Nations aimed at recruiting me,'' she said. "I remember parades that would take place in downtown Coeur d'Alene, and the white supremacists that would flock from all over the country for that event. rll never forget, and if I can help¡ it, I'll never let this beautiful place be overtaken by such hateful people again."

A cartoon flyer recently circulated through the Coeur d'Alene area.

Photo cour1esy of Laura Tenneson

Knowyour Constitution w, e 1·;:;,p1e out of existence Anyone who objects to thlr. er .:ne is •ubJect to hc1rassnent. ht1mldat1on. ~l~lent acts and threats of violence, lllychological terrorism, job loss • ~a Prison terms

Photo courtesy 01 Laura Tenneson

Leaflets denouncing immigration spread through the Coeur d'Alene area recently.

American colonists fought, sacrificed. and died to establish and preserve the freedoms now guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States. The right to privacy has come to the public's attention through

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various controversial Supreme Court rulings. Privacy is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, See UNITED, A6

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LET'S OEUBERATELYCREATE "flACISi

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Photo courte ·,y ol Laura Tenneson

A flyer featuring "14 Words," a prominent white supremacist slogan, has also been distributed throughout the area this year.

says and does not say.

Did you know? The oldest person to sign from A1 the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin but over the years the (81). The youngest was Supreme Cotu-l has Jonathan Dayton of New made decisions that have Jersey (26). established that the right to privacy is a basic human right and as such This Constitution Week is protected by virtue of Spotlight was provided the 9th Amendment.

by Lt. George Farragut Study the • Chapter National Constitution, know your Society Daughters of the rights, and know what it American Revolution.

UNITED

P11010 .ovrt1..~y of w, .ra Ternesor Postcards denouncing a recent diversity symposium circulated through the Coeur d'Alene area, prompting local activists to voice their concerns during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

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Sunday September 22, 2019

7.to join Idaho Hall of Fame

By TONY STEWART Special to The Press

COEU R d'ALEN E The Idaho Hall of Fame Board of Directors announced seven nominees for induction into the Idaho Hall of Fame for 2020. The board reviews potential nominees and makes selections in odd-numbered years; inductions follow in even-numbered years.

The eligibility criteria and goal since 1985 has been to choose individuals, businesses and nonprofits that have made significant contributions to their communities, the state, the nation and in many cases, the world.

The seven candidates for 2020 induction are Christie Wood, Dr. Jack Riggs, Mike Patrick, Sholeh Patrick, Bruce Reed, the late Father Bill Wassmuth and Robert Singletary.

Iieutenant governor. He is the founder and past owner of the Pita Pit restaurant chain. Riggs spearheaded a multimillion-dollar campa ign for the new Kroc Center in Coeur d.Alene.

He is well known for his Riggs years of public service, civic work, charitable contributions to many deserving community groups and an innovative organizer of various medical services in the region.

as North Idaho College Vice President of External Relations and North Idaho Field Representative for Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter. Sholeh's in-depth research and effective communication skills for her bi-weekly column have made her an important force with a positive impact in the region, creating a greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity among the world's cultures. These stories encourage greater civility in public dialogue.

B RUCE REED grew up in Coeur

d'Alene, earned an undergraduate degree from Journalist who has worked Princeton University and for such newspapers as the became a Rhodes Scholar.

Tucson Citizen, the Arizona He has had a major Daily Sun, the Daily Record impact and influence on in Lawrenceville, Ill., and national policy, serving as the Daily Herald in Provo, a domestic adviser during Utah. For the past 18 years, Reed the Clinton and Obama Patrick has been managing administrations. He served CHRISTIE WOOD is a longtime M. Patrick editor of The Coeur d'Alene as chief of staff for Vice Idaho resident who was Press and Post Falls Press. President Joe Biden. He was executive a Coeur d'Alene police He holds a bachelor of arts director for the 18-member Alan officer for 26 years. She in journalism from the University of Simpson-Erskine Bowles Commission served eight years on Arizona. He has bad a major positive on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform the Coeur d'Alene School impact on public policy in this region established in April 2010.

Board and was elected to through his years of thoughtful the North Idaho College e,d itorials in the Coeur d' Alene Press.

THE LATE BILL WASSMUTH was a Board of Trustees for the past 15 years. She is a U.S. popular Catholic priest who SHOLEH PATRICK is an attorney served the Diocese of Boise Air Force veteran. Since who earned her law as well as pastoral duties 2007, Wood has been a board degree from South Texas member of the Kootenai County Task in Caldwell and McCall College of Law. She has Force on Human Relations, serving as befor~ becoming pastor at been a columnist for The president from 2012 to the present. She St. Pius X Catholic Church Coeur d'Alene Press for earned a bachelor's of science in Jaw in Coeur d'Alene in 1979. He 17 years. She also edits enforcement and communications from ~,~,!! served a t~rm as president some of the newspaper's Lewis and Clark State College. wassmuth of the National Conference special sections. Some of Diocesan Directors of of her past professional DR. JACK RIGGS is a physician who s. Patrick positions include serving served in the Idaho state senate and as See FAME, A2 MIKE PATRICK is a prominent

FAME

spokesman for civil rights, accepting speaking engagements across America and interviews with worldwide media outlets.

1976 Bicentennial celebration, Robert was selected to play from A1 bass viol with Idaho's Bicentennial Orchestra.

Religious Education He was a member of headquarter ed in the North Idaho College Washington, D.C. teaching staff from During his tenure ROBERT 1972-2006. He has a as president of the SINGLETARY is often master 's degree from Kootenai County called the historian of the University of Idaho Task Force on Human northern Idaho, giving in Music Performance Relations, Wassmuth historical tours of the and Administration. became a target of region, lectures, and is Among the 198 the neo-Nazi Aryan an author past inductees are Nations, who bombed of books Harmon Killebrew, his home in an attempt about the governors Phil Batt to kill him. After the region's and Cecil Andrus, bombing, he became history.

Ernest Hemingway, a prominent national From 1994- actress Lana Turn~r, 2004 Robert Morrison Knudsen wrote a Corporation and Coeur The Coeur d'Alene Press and the weekly Post Falls Press (USPS 120-500, ISSN d' Alene Tribal Council Singletary column JO-I I-2883) is publfahcd daily by The Chairman Ernie Coeur d.Alene Press. Inc. 215 N. 2nd about Stensgar.

Other locals ~I., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814. the history in the Hall of Fame Su,a:ested rates for home delivery: of the area for The are Duane Hagadone, Daily and Su.nday: by carrier. $5.23 per.

Coeur d' Alene Press.

Louise Shadduck and week. Daily Only: hy carrier, S4.03 per week. Monday-Friday: hy carrier, S3.4 I His best-known book Pappy Boyington. per week, Weekend: by carrier. $3.56 is titled "Kootenai "We are looking per week (tax included).

Chronicles." He also forward to adding Rates for mail delivery: ( Payatile in is an accomplished these seven deserving advancc)Daily and Sunday, $26.00 each mus ician/ music candidates to the Idaho 4 weeks. Mon-Sat Sl8.00 each 4 weeks. director. He founded Sal/Sun $17.00 each 4 weeks. Sund11y Hall of Fame on April only, SJ 4.00 each 4 weeks (tax and conducted the 17, 2020 at the Best included). Other subscription lengths Panhandle Symphony, Western Coeur d'Alene available. Periodical postage paid at and was founder and Inn, " IHF president Coeur d'Alene. Idaho 83814 and at conductor of the North Dallas Cox said. additional mailing offices.

Idaho Wind Ensemble Postmaster: Please send addrcs.~ changes to: and the Coeur d' Alene 111c Coeur d'Alene Pres.~.

Symphony in the Idaho Hall of Fame: 215 N. 2nd. Coeur d'Alene, Jdaho 83814 1970s . During the https:/ / idhalloffame.

North Idaho

The Press

VRa7"!!a The five most-read stories yesterday on cdapress. com: 1. Rome, with ties to throwers, throws events in North Idaho, dies

2. 7 to join Idaho Hall of Fame 3. Vaping mystery creates a cloud of concern 4. Post Falls Superintendent Jerry Keane to retire after four decades with his district 5. After nearly two years, young patient says 'goodbye' to Kootenai Health Download the Coeur d 'Alene Press App here

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 I A5

-~· COEUR cl' ALINE KOOT.ENAI

www.cdapress.com

Friday November 1, 2019

44° 28°

'

Leaaers suspect postcards timed for city election

By CRAIG NORTHRUP Staff Writer

Bigoted postcards arrived in Coeur d'Alene mailboxes Thursday, prompting outrage and solidarity from community leaders and candidates.

"I don't mind saying, I was very disturbed seeing that in my mailbox," said Dan English, longtime resident and candidate for City Council.

"It certainly doesn't represent Coeur d'Alene and what everyone here believes in and stands for."

The postcard, postmarked with Tuesday's date and location of the U.S. Postal Service sorting center in Spokane, delivers an animated rendering of a Sept.

17 photograph taken at the Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting, where president of the Kootenai County Human Rights Task Force and fellow council candidate Christie Wood posed with Mayor Steve Widmyer and Love Lives Here CDA fou nder Laura Tenneson.

The photograph, which ran in The Press and has been posted on social media platforms, accompanied Widmyer's proclamation affirming Coeur d' Alene's dedication to an inclusive community.

In the postcard, that

Counesy of Dan English

A postcard promoting bigoted themes and cartoonish depictions of Christie Wood, Mayor Steve Widmyer and Laura Tenneson were mailed to Coeur d'Alene residents Thursday.

community, a homeless photograph was altered Beneath the altered image, a line of smaller man, a suicide bomber, through a digital figures depicted a drug a racist depiction of an lens to depict Wood, Widmyer and Tenneson addict, a gang member, a member of the trans as cartoonish clowns.

See JUNK, A7

JUNK

"This task force is in its 39th year," she said. " We have had so much support from the community ... Over the years, people have come out in droves to celebrate human rights here, so I'm not concerned if this represents the flavor of Coeur d' Alene. It doesn't."

all. "

After learning of the postcards, Widmyer denounced the mailers. as well.

African-American with "You know, it's just the fa ce of a primate, sleazy politics," he said. and a woman wearing "It's unfortunate we a burka. The postcard have individuals in our is titled "Clown World" community that would beneath the image in put something out like car toonish balloon this." lettering.

He added that he On the back thinks the of the postcard, postcards a diatribe calls were meant the Sept. 17 to poison the declaration a rhetoric in "freak show," the upcoming labeling it a election.

"Perversity "I think it's Proclamation." motivated by "CdA Mayor the election," Steve Widmyer, Widmyer Christie Wood insisted. and Laura "One hundred Tenneson percent." determined Tenneson, you will be who entertained emphasized CHRISTIE WOOD, City Council candidate with community she's only perversity," the speaking postcard reads.

When asked if she for herself and not as The literature then believes the Nov. 5 a representative for foretells the future election may have Western States Center will bring diversity motivated the mass(a left-leaning advocacy crime, diversity mailings, she sa id organization for which homelessness, diversity she didn't know for she serves as a senior taxes, diversity voters, certain, but she has her fellow) , or the Love diversity street feces suspicions.

Lives Here CDA group and, once she founded , again, diversity said the perversity. postcards only "Why go to embolden Spokane, LA qr her and her San Francisco community. when we can "These have our very actions are own Freak uncalled Show CdA?" the for and postcard ends. inappropriate," Wood said she said, "but she received the they will in no STEVE WIDMYER, Cd'A mayor communication way deter me in her mailbox, from my work. as well.

I will continue "It was very "The timing's pretty to push on to fight disappointing," she close," she said, "so discrimination in any said . "The mayor yeah, I think this form in this community. gave a proclamation probably has to do with It's concerning, for sure, that day that said the election coming up." but I'm not scared. I have we'd protect the Wood's opponent, a huge support system Constitution. We were Elaine Price, rebuked behind me. " happy to be there. the postcards as the English said residents We 're disappointed worst of North Idaho's should dismiss the there's this kind of stigma left from its postcards as cries from underbelly that exists past. bigots longing for a past out there. " "I am not for any of that has no place in Speaking as that stuff," she said.

Coeur d'Alene. president of the task "I am not for people 'Tm sorry that force , she said her putting other people anybody would receive work and the work of down fo r those r easons. [the postcards]," he said, the community won't It's uncalled for. I don't "and I hope they would be deterred. think it's called for at ignore it." from A1

"The mayor gave a proclamation that day that said we'd protect the Constitution.

We were happy to be there.

We're disappointed there's this kind of underbelly that exists out there."

"You know, it's just sleazy politics, it's unfortunate we have individuals in our community that would put something out like this."

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Courtesy ot Dan English

The backside of a postcard promoting bigoted themes and cartoonlsh depictions of Christle Wood, Mayor Steve Wldmyer and Laura Tenneson were mailed to Coeur d'Alene residents Thursday.

A2 I Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Press

Task force: Racist postcards will only unite us Since the establishment of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in February 1981 following the targeting of a Jewish restaurant owner in Hayden. one of our many responsibilities has been to condemn in no uncertain terms the words and acts of purveyors of hate who have attempted to demean, dehumanize or threaten any of our citizens.

During almost 40 years. we have confronted groups such as the Aryan Nations, the KKK and other

extremists' groups as they spread their messages OPINION of hate by declaring people of color as the mud race, vile anti-Semitic literature, calling for Tony the death of Stewart members of the LGBT My community, Turn and their targeting members of certain religions to name a few of the intended targets.

One s uch example from the past was

the 2003 Hayden mayoral candidacy of Aryan Nations' leader Richard Butler when he distributed flyers attacking the religious affiliation of the Honorable Mayor Ron McIntire. At the time. we spoke out strongly condemning that hatred and bigotry.

The KCTFHR has been fortunate and blessed to partner with members of the religious. business and educational communities. state and local Republican and Democratic elected leaders such as Gov. Phil Batt (R) and Gov. Cecil Andrus (0). law enforcement. the

courts and the people of goodwill to promote and advance the principles of democracy.

Unfortunately this week we have witnessed yet another bate-filled message in a n attempt to sow division among our citizens with a massive mailing of a cartoon postcard to the residents of Coew¡ d'Alene. Among other things, it depicts an African American gentleman with the face of a primate, spews religious bigotry. demeans members of the LGBT community and targets three Coeur d'Alene citizens for ridicule in an attempt to

demonize them.

Christie Wood, the president of the KCTFHR. a retired police officer and military veteran. is depicted as a sympathizer of communism.

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer became a target for issuing a proclamation recognizing and honoring the United States Constitution on the 232nd anniversary of our most important document for establishing our democracy.

Another citizen was targeted for her ¡ willingness to express her opinion.

We not only condemn this message of hate but assure these anonymous purveyors of hate that they will not divide us but rather unite us in the pursuit of respect and dignity for all.

The late Catholic priest Bill Wassmuth stated it best: "Saying Yes to Human Rights is the Best Way to Say No to Prejudice and Bigotry."

This statement was issued Frulay by Tony Stewart. secretary of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Board of Dir;ectors.

-

COEUR

d' ALENE

Tuesday \

November 19, 2019

SERVING

KOOTENAI

Human Rights group condemns hateful symbol

By CHRISTIE WOOD and TONY STEWART

This would include for example ow¡ opposition to the ideologies of the Aryan Nations. the KKK and the Communist Party.

Over the weekend we The hammer learned about and the sickle the art piece on and the swastika public prope1ty became the in Riverstone symbols of displaying the totalitarian symbol of the regimes in the hammer and the Soviet Union sickle. and Germany, We want to Wood Stewert which brought be clear that it untold destruction has been our and death worldwide. Both mission for 39 years to speak symbols represent genocide. out and oppose all atrocities that have resulted in the deaths We condemn both symbols and of millions of innocent victims. regimes in the strongest terms.

During the reign of Soviet whether from the regimes of the far right or the far left.

See WOOD, AS

Hammer and sickle symbol for hypocrites

By BRENT REGAN

blessed by Jennifer Drake and the Alts Commission At long last Coeur d'Alene and prominently displayed in has a monument to Hypocrites.

Riverstone with the stated purpose. celebrating their of making people "feel Irrational and Inside tmcomfortablc." The selective outrage at hammer and sickle. â&#x20AC;˘ Readers symbol of the socialist perceived random sound off regime of a hated offenses. on this I am referring, genocidal dictator issue/ A3 who systematically of course. to the swastika. blessed murdered over 60

by Jennifer million people including 8 million Regan Drake and the Jews and waged a cold war for 45 Arts Commission years resulting in over a hundred and prominently displayed thousand American deaths and in Riverstone with the stated posed an existential threat to life purpose of making people "feel on the planet. uncomfortable" ... wait ... did I say The hammer and sickle. icon swastika? I meant hammer and and constant reminder of the sickle.

See REGAN, A5 The hammer and sickle.

REGAN

sick.Jc proudly stands in ow· community. Its very existence is a monument from A1 to Hypocrites. You see, thermonuclear apocalypse Hypocrites will bully and that very nearly conswned threaten an employer if an U1e world. Many have employee writes something vivid childhood memories they fmd "offensive." of "Duck and Cover" Hypocrites will picket drills where we marched and march against a out of our classrooms private gathering where the speaker may say and knelt on the textured concrete of a walkway something that they don't with hands clasped behind approve of. Hypoc1ites will huff and puff and · our necks, remaining frozen and silent until complain at a political the all-clear bell sounded. cruioon that they interpret Our "Safe Spaces" were as objectionable or demand bomb shelters, stocked tile removal of a flag or bulldoze historical with water and crackers and radiation dosimeters. monuments.

There were instructions Hypocrites squeal for on bow to convert empty the banishment of those water barrels into toilets not committed to their and charts showing how version of diversity. many days it would take Hypocrites will, Jacking for radjation to fall to safe any authority or mandate, levels. virtue signal as if they represent an entire The hammer and

WOOD

hammer and sickle bring back horrible memories to the victims of these from A1 totalitarian regimes.

Our local communities leaders such as Joseph and the Pacific Northwest Stalin. there was a blood have an honorable wand purge when the KGB, long history of supporting the secret police, were the democratic principles used to imprison millions of equality, freedom and of Russian citizens in justice for the dignity of concentration camps, ow· people. resulting in the death of We·support Coeur untold millions. d'Alene Mayor Steve Likewise Nazi Widmyer's decision to Germany, w1der the reign remove the art display, as of Adolph Hitler, used the we would do if it were a secret police such as U1e display of the Swastika.

Storm Troopers to set up Finally. we wish to concentration camps that became killing places, resulting in the death of 6 million Jews plus other minorities.

It is equally horrible and evil regardless of whether the acts are carried out under the political philosophy of the far right or the far left.

Today we coptinue to witness the threat from Russia to democracy and our values.

We oppose the display on public property and the use of taxpayer dollars for symbols that , represent or signify unconscionable acts of evil.

The swastika and lhe

population proclainting

"This is NOT who WE are!"

Yel place these same self-aggrandizing Hypocrites before an icon representing U1e most destructive, hateful, murderous ideology of the 20th centw-y and they fall mute. No protests, no marches, no demands to excise this offense, no calls for its removal. Crickets ...

The hanuner and sickle stands as a touchstone, demonstrating for the rest of us by i.ts presence that the Hypocrites are simply empty husks of ersatz outrage with the same moral authority as toddlers and small yapping dogs.

Brent Regan is chairman of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. recognize and thank the Coem d'Alene Arls Commission for tJ1eir many years of promoting the arts in our city, the beautification their work has graced ow· city with and this is ow· flrst time to respectfully disagree with one of their decisions.

Christie Wood is president and Tony Stewart is secretary of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

LOREN BENOIT/Press

Marker #11 , a four-walled box, displays a word and symbol from four different languages and their corresponding countries. On one side, the sculpture had the Russian word for coal and the Soviet hammer and sickle.

A4

I Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Opinion Editorial

This protest isn't about intolerance remember Ganesha.

YAoustatue No? of Ganesha, a Hindu god, was erected (and we use that word with tongue in cheek) in downtown Coeur d'Alene as part of the city's public art program. A month later, in July 2011, a passionate citizen and members of his church led a petition drive to get the elephant-like creation removed.

In the man's interpretation, the symbol of Ganesha was too similar to the swastika and the elephant's trunk depicted a phallic symbol.

"So far all the complaints about (Ganesha) seem to be based in a great deal of ignorance and religious intolerance," said the statue's creator, Rick Davis of Spokane. Davis carried some pretty weighty credibility. He also created the St. Francis of Assisi statue that stood a few blocks from the Ganesha statue.

An interesting side note from a July 7, 2011, article in Th-e Press: One ..of the complainers was local artist Dan Brannan, who created the recent pre-election postcard that some depicted as racist and hateful. Here's what the July 2011 story said: "At the June ribbon cutting, Danny Brannan, chairman of the Kootenai County Constitution Party, protested the statue, saying 'Christians of Kootenai County should be dismayed at the appearance of a Hindu demon,' and calling the art selectors 'godless."'

You see where this is going.

Art of any kind can stir some pretty powerful emotions. Good art can be highly controversial.

So where does the hammer and sickle of recent infamy fit in?

Just a few observations: • The controversial piece stood in relative obscurity at Riverstone for three years before all the alarms went off, triggered by social media.

How damaging or effective had it been if nobody had even noticed?

• Jennifer Drake, the volunteer chair of the Coeur d'Alene Arts Commission, has endured some criticism she deserved but ruthlessness and threats ::,he absolutely does not. The guess here is that this bright, civic-minded woman has learned from the experience. Now leave her alone.

• In calling for immediate removal of the piece, Mayor Steve Widmyer was completely justified, and here's why: No symbol of blatant hatred and genocide should ever be displayed at taxpayer expense. Hate speech - and the hammer and sickle symbol is an example of hate speech may be protected by Supreme Court ruling, but it has no place in the public-paid realm.

Ganesha stuck around, as it should.

The hammer and sickle has gone back to hell, where it belongs.