Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Posted By on Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 10:53 AM


Is your dog, cat, rat, goat, pig, bird or reptile the cutest and coolest in the land? Don't wait to submit a photo of them and a brief bio telling us why they deserve to be in the Inlander for our first ever Pets Issue, on stands June 21.

Pet-loving readers have a little more than 24 hours to submit if they haven't already; the deadline is tomorrow, June 7, at midnight.

For the inaugural Pets Issue, we're picking three local pets to be featured in the paper, along with a collection of other pet-related pieces by Inlander staff.

The best news for you, dear readers and loyal pet slaves owners, is that our top three winners in first through third place will each receive gift cards to local pet supplier Northwest Seed & Pet, which has generously agreed to sponsor the contest!

First place will receive a $150 gift card, while second and third will be presented with a $100 and $50, respectively.

There are several ways you can still submit your pet to the contest. Submissions are limited to one per household, and must be from readers in the Inlander's distribution and coverage area of Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

The best way to submit is to email a photo of your pet to Pets Issue editor Chey Scott, at cheys@inlander.com. You can also tag us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with the tag #InlanderPets. Make sure, though, to include the following: your pet's name, age, breed/species and where it currently resides (hometown), along with a brief sentence or two on why your pet deserves to be featured in the Inlander.

We're going to try out best to contact winners early next week. I originally said we'd do this on Friday, June 8, but we've been getting so many (awesome) submissions it's going to take a little longer than that to sort through them all!

For any questions regarding the contest or the Pets Issue, feel free to reach out to me via email, cheys@inlander.com.

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Posted By on Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 9:28 AM

ON INLANDER.COM


NEWS: An white supremacist sympathizer and known alt-right demonstrator, James Allsup, was elected to a Whitman County GOP position. It’s not a very glamorous and he ran unopposed. Despite some backlash, he seems determined to stay where he’s at.


THEATER: The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are hosting a benefit reception for Stage Left’s production of God’s Country on Thursday (tomorrow). The play is (also) about white supremacists. The proceeds will go to benefit the Spokane DSA and an undocumented immigrant fund, among others.


NATION: Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty yesterday to sexual assault charges. The 66-year-old has denied any wrongdoing with the dozens of women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.


IN OTHER NEWS


The Nazi next door

The new Nazis “come in suits and ties, college boys with at least occasional good manners, wearing pocket squares and high-and-tights,” writes Shawn Vestal in a column, “Modern-day Nazis Hide Swastikas Under Sheep’s Clothing to Sneak Into GOP flock.”


Following up on the news about Allsup, he warns that white identity extremists are conflating the conservative brand in an attempt to make their bigotry appear “defensible,” even normal. In fact, Allsup says that himself. But I guess this isn’t really news. It’s just gross. (Spokesman-Review)


Unprovoked police beating in Mesa

A video was recently released of a group of police officers beating an unarmed black man in Mesa, Arizona. An apartment surveillance video shows the officers surrounding him and, without physical provocation, begin punching him. He was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and hindering prosecution. The officers are on administrative leave. (Associated Press)


Supremely disqualified

Two disbarred Washington attorneys with hopes of becoming Supreme Court justices have been kicked off the November ballot from running. Turns out, being stripped of your law license disqualifies you for the Supreme Court. Who'da thunk it? (Seattle Times)


California key

Democrats spent millions targeting about a half-dozen Republican-held House seats in California. They are competing in all 53 districts in the state. With complete control of California, it could give them the majority they need in Congress. (Washington Post)

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Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Posted By on Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 4:55 PM

click to enlarge Whitman County GOP already looking to oust alt-right white nationalist James Allsup from precinct position
Wilson Criscione photo
James Allsup preparing for a podcast last fall
The headlines make it sound a little worse than it actually is.

"Charlottesville Hate Marcher Elected By Republican Party," declared The Daily Beast this morning. "Charlottesville Rally Marcher is now a Republican Elected Official as More White Nationalists Run For Office Than Ever Before," says Newsweek.

The "Hate Marcher" they're referring to, of course, is James Allsup, the alt-right former Washington State University College Republican leader who marched alongside racists, Nazis and white supremacists at last year's Charlottesville rally, where one woman counterprotester was killed.

And while it's technically true that Allsup was awarded a position in the Whitman County Republican Party, the details are pretty unimpressive: He was given a precinct committee officer, or PCO, position that typically involves handing out campaign materials for candidates, or voting for their party's local leadership. There are about 60 PCO positions in Whitman County, and many are unfilled, says Whitman County GOP state committeeman Art Swannack. Essentially, Allsup wrote his name down on a piece of paper, declared himself a Republican, went unchallenged and won the seat.

And it already looks likely that Allsup's brief reign as Whitman County GOP Precinct Committee Officer may be over soon. Swannack, who is a Whitman County Commissioner in addition to his role as a committeeman for the county GOP party, says the party leadership will examine the bylaws that could prevent Allsup from taking the seat.

"The executive committee is going to meet and see if we have the ability to not seat him," Swannack says. "My understanding is he won the election, but the party has the right to choose whether or not we have to seat him."

For Swannack, the idea of Allsup representing the Whitman County GOP in any way is a problem.

"I'm concerned with most of the things that James Allsup has said since the Charlottesville incident," Swannack says. "I don't believe he represents the Republican party."

Allsup often pushes back when someone refers to him as a white supremacist, white nationalist or Nazi, even though he proudly marched with those same people in Charlottesville.

He stepped down as WSU College Republican president shortly after the rally and has since been making YouTube videos and podcasts promoting his views that call for a halt to immigration and for all illegal immigrants to be kicked out of the country. While he has previously contended his views are not "racist" to the Inlander, but rather a "racial preference," he has recently become a member of Identity Evropa, a white supremacist group known for recruiting college students with their racist flyers.

The Republican National Committee, according to the Daily Beast's story, denounced Allsup, saying, "We condemn this individual and his hateful, racist views in the strongest possible terms." The Washington State Republican Party chairman also told the Daily Beast that it doesn't condone "identity politics, in any form, whatsoever."

The story goes on to quote Allsup saying on a podcast, "I happen to be involved in the Spokane GOP," before saying he's an elected official for the Whitman County GOP. He says the position gives him "a seat at the table" where he can push his political agenda. When the Inlander asked Allsup about his involvement with the Spokane GOP today, Allsup clarified:

"I have no formal involvement with the Spokane GOP although I look forward to working with them in my role with the Whitman County GOP," Allsup says.

As for the Whitman County GOP potentially preventing him from taking his seat as PCO, Allsup says, "I don't believe that's going to happen."

Swannack, for his part, says few people were aware Allsup was running for PCO at all, which is common for these positions.

"I'm assuming if a bunch of people knew, then there would be a Republican that would have stood up and run against him," Swannack says.

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Posted By on Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 2:03 PM

click to enlarge God’s Country reception at Stage Left on Thursday supports local DSA, legal fund for undocumented immigrants
The Spokane Democratic Socialists of America chapter will host a benefit at Thursday's performance of the play God's Country at Stage Left Theater.

Spokane Democratic Socialists of America
(DSA) is hosting a benefit reception prior to this Thursday's performance of God’s Country at Stage Left Theater, on June 7 at 7:30 pm.

All proceeds from the fundraiser go towards the Spokane DSA, the Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane, Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane and the Undocumented Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, a partnership of the Hispanic Business/Professionals Association.
click to enlarge God’s Country reception at Stage Left on Thursday supports local DSA, legal fund for undocumented immigrants (2)
Spokane DSA


Written by Steven Dietz and directed by Rebecca McNeill, the play is based on the real-life events of a white supremacist terrorist group that was active in the Inland Northwest during the 1980s.

Tickets for the show are offered at two donation levels: The “comradery level” at $21 is the theater's standard ticket price, while the “solidarity level” is $31 and includes an additional $10 donation. Tickets are available at northwesttickets.com.

The DSA is the largest socialist organization in the U.S. At the event, Spokane DSA chapter's newly elected leadership will be introduced and discuss the group's community work to all those interested.

Regular performances of God's Country at Stage Left run through Sunday, June 10.

Spokane DSA Benefit Night • Thu, June 7 at 6:30 pm • $21-$31 • Stage Left Theater • 108 W. Third • spokanestageleft.org • 838-9727

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Posted By on Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 9:35 AM

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: Following yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple's wedding, could the decision have implications for a similar case in Washington state? Attorney General Bob Ferguson doubts it.

NEWS: More bats have rabies this May than any other May for the past 20 years. This should go without saying, but you should probably avoid the bats.

IN OTHER NEWS

Wasn't me
Gordon Ennis, the former Spokane police officer recently convicted of rape, now argues that a different officer actually had sexual contact with the victim. (Spokesman-Review)

We see you, Amazon
A-maybe-not-so mysterious warehouse project to be built on the West Plains is looking more and more like it's an Amazon fulfillment center. Called Project Rose, the commercial distribution center has been proposed to be built on 80 acres near the Spokane International Airport. (Spokesman-Review)

Food trucks at the park
This summer, you can head down to Riverfront Park every Tuesday for some tasty food truck cuisine. It's part of a new program called Riverfront Eats, and it starts today. (KXLY)

Venti Venti

Howard Schultz, who may be best remembered in Washington as an integral piece in the Seattle Sonics leaving for Oklahoma City, has stepped down as Starbucks chairman. The move has fueled speculation that he might run for president in 2020. (NBC News)

Pardon?
Does Sen. Ted Cruz agree that Donald Trump can pardon himself? (18 seconds pass.) "I will withhold judgment at this point," Cruz finally responds. The 18-second pause before answering reflects the uncomfortable position Senate Republicans are in following Trump's statement. (The Weekly Standard)

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Monday, June 4, 2018

Posted By on Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 5:24 PM

click to enlarge Washington state finds more rabid bats this spring, here's what to do if one touches you
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Progressive Animal Welfare Society

More bats have tested positive for rabies in the month of May than in any other May for the past 20 years, and while it's only a handful so far, Washington state health officials are taking the chance to remind people how to avoid bats, and what to do if you come in contact with one.

It's estimated less than 1 percent of bats carry the disease, which is fatal to people and pets in nearly all cases if left untreated, reports the Spokane Regional Health District. But the percentage of bats tested (a few hundred a year) that carry rabies is higher, between 3 percent and 10 percent.

Four bats in Snohomish, King and Chelan counties have tested positive for rabies so far this year, according to the Washington State Department of Health, and in each of the last couple years, a few bats have tested positive in Spokane County. Several people in the Spokane area have come in contact with bats already this spring, but none have tested positive for rabies so far, the health district reports.

Bats hibernate during the winter and are good for the environment and pest control, but they are the most common carriers of rabies in the Pacific Northwest, according to health officials.

Most of the time, people come into contact with a bat when it sneaks into their home through a window or opening or a pet brings it inside, the health district reports, and it's important to be careful if and when that happens, because you might not feel a scratch or bite from the bat.

  • "A potential rabies exposure should never be taken lightly. In 2015, a rabid bat bit a child in Spokane County, resulting in vaccination of both the child and mother. Again, if left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal. The last reported human cases of rabies in Washington state were in 1997 and 1995."

So here's what to do, according to health officials:
  • Make sure pets are vaccinated against rabies.
  • Make sure windows and doors have screens on them, and chimney dampers are closed, to prevent easy access points to your home.
  • If you're not sure whether a bat should be tested, call the Spokane Regional Health District at 324-1560, extension 7, to see if it should be captured.

  • If you find a dead bat that hasn't been in touch with someone, you should throw it away to prevent possible exposure: wear gloves and use a shovel to put it in a bag, tie it off and double bag it before throwing it away where kids can't access it. Then wash the shovel with a 10 percent bleach solution.
  • Talk to a health professional if you may have been exposed to determine if you need to be vaccinated.
“Prompt administration of this treatment is highly effective in preventing rabies following exposure," says SRHD Health Officer, Dr. Bob Lutz. “Although most bats are harmless and do not carry rabies, people should never handle live or dead bats. To protect yourself and your loved ones, your safest bet is to simply presume every bat is rabid.”
click to enlarge Washington state finds more rabid bats this spring, here's what to do if one touches you (2)
Spokane Regional Health District BatSmart program
Some tips for how to avoid contact with bats around your property from the Spokane Regional Health District.

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Posted By on Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 5:07 PM

click to enlarge What does the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage discrimination mean for a Washington florist?
Ted Eytan photo

The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a custom cake for a same-sex couple's wedding based on his religious beliefs. The decision could have some implications for a similar case in Washington state.

The much anticipated 7-2 decision turns on what Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, calls "hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated [the baker's] objection," referring to a Colorado civil rights commission, which initially ruled against the baker, Jack Phillips.

"The government, consistent with the Constitution's guarantee of free expression, cannot impose regulations that are hostile to the religious beliefs of affected citizens and cannot act in the manner that passes judgment upon or presupposes the illegitimacy of religious beliefs and practices," Kennedy writes.

The Colorado case pitting religious freedom against gay rights has some similarities to a case in Washington state, which awaits possible review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The narrowly crafted decision in the Colorado case did not answer the critical question of whether requiring Phillips to bake a cake for a same-sex couple violates his First Amendment right to free speech.

In February 2017, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that a Richland, Washington, florist violated the state's anti-discrimination law when she refused to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding.

Like the Colorado baker, Barronelle Stutzman argued that providing an arrangement for a gay wedding goes against her religious beliefs, and requiring her to do so violates her First Amendment rights. Stutzman appealed the state Supreme Court's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has not said whether it will hear her case.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who sued Stutzman for the discrimination, says today that the ruling in Colorado "may add some procedural steps to the Arlene's Flowers case, but it will not alter its ultimate resolution."

"Washington state law protects same-sex couples from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, the same way it protects Washingtonians from discrimination based on their religion, veteran or military status, disability, race and other protected classes," Ferguson says in a prepared statement. "Nothing about today's ruling changes that. I will continue to enforce our state law against discrimination.

Ferguson says the court's decision in the Colorado case relies on facts that are not present in the florist's case, specifically the hostility from the Colorado civil rights commission.

"We are confident Washington courts showed no such hostility," Ferguson says.

It's unclear whether the U.S. Supreme Court will accept the Arlene's Flowers case, though Ferguson says one possibility is to send the case back to the state's Supreme Court to determine whether today's ruling applies. If that happens, Ferguson says he is confident the Washington State Supreme Court justices will stick with their unanimous decision in favor of the same-sex couple.

Although the Colorado case did not satisfy the major question of freedom of religion and expression versus gay rights, Justice Kennedy notes in his opinion that while religious objections to gay marriage are protected under the Constitution, those protections generally do not allow business owners to deny gay people service.

There are exceptions, Justice Kennedy notes, such as a clergy who objects to same-sex marriage, who likely could not be compelled to perform a ceremony. Though if the exceptions are not narrowly drawn, a "long list of persons who provide goods and services for marriages and weddings might refuse to do so for gay persons, thus resulting in a community-wide stigma inconsistent with the history and dynamics of civil rights laws that ensure equal access to goods, services and public accommodations."

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Posted By on Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 9:26 AM

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS:
What are Cathy McMorris Rodgers' feelings on the Russia investigation? Well, they're pretty "meh." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

click to enlarge Supreme Court sides with anti-gay baker, Idaho teacher charged with feeding puppy to turtle and other morning headlines (2)
Courtesy of OSPI
Mandy Manning
NEWS: She met the president, she passed on a message of inclusivity and now she's being honored with a new prize by Spokane Pride.

IN OTHER NEWS

Supreme Court sides with baker

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for gay men. It's not clear how the narrow ruling might impact similar cases, like the florist in Washington state who similarly refused to provide floral arrangements for a gay wedding. (New York Times)

Pardon me, but did someone say pardon?
In case you don't follow him on Twitter, President Donald Trump took the chance this morning to remind people he has the right to pardon himself, but, you know, he's done nothing wrong. (Washington Post)

M's number 1!
King Felix brought the heat Sunday helping put the Mariners in the first place in the American League West. We're sure there's plenty of time to mess it up, but let's revel in this moment. (MLB)

Mountees in Spokane?
Expect to see some anti-crime volunteers on horses in city parks this summer.  (KXLY)

Idaho teacher allegedly fed puppy to snapping turtle in class
An Idaho teacher has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly feeding a puppy to a snapping turtle in his classroom in March. (Idaho Statesman)

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Friday, June 1, 2018

Posted By on Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 3:37 PM

click to enlarge Cathy McMorris Rodgers is pretty blasé about the whole Russia investigation thing
Young Kwak photo
Cathy McMorris Rodgers says the Mueller investigation should continue, but has been dismissive of the results so far.
I
f there's any way Cathy McMorris Rodgers has changed in the last five years, she tells the Inlander in a recent set of interviews, it has to do with her views on the balance of power between the legislature and the other branches.

"The Legislative branch has been weakened," McMorris Rodgers says. "You don't see all of that when you're first elected in the House. You're just trying to figure out where the bathrooms are."

She says that, increasingly, she's come to believe that "Congress needs to assert itself on behalf of the people," and check the power of the executive and judicial branches. For example, she believes the Authorization of the Use of Military Force, that has been used to justify a wide range of military force by presidents since 9/11, needs to be revised.

"No one is above the law," McMorris Rodgers says. "Congress has a responsibility to provide oversight and accountability.”

So naturally, the Inlander asked McMorris Rodgers how she has tried to provide oversight and accountability of President Donald Trump.

"The House has been more focused on providing that oversight as it relates to the FBI," McMorris Rodgers acknowledges.

And for Trump?

"Well, the House did do an investigation into Russia's meddling into — possible meddling into the elections, and issued a report that basically found no evidence," McMorris Rodgers says. (Her staff later clarified that she does believe there's evidence that Russia meddled in the election — just that she hasn't seen any evidence of collusion.)

Indeed, House Republicans did issue a 250-page intelligence report that largely absolved Trump of any involvement in Russian meddling of the election. All the contacts between Trump's team and Russian officials may have been ill-advised, but didn't rise to the level of "collusion."

But Democrats mocked that investigation as particularly flimsy and cursory: Republicans didn't even bother to interview former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who's pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, about his conversations with Russians.

Instead, most attention has turned to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference of the 2016 election.

We know that Trump has already tried to fire Mueller, only to be talked down from it. Not once, but twice. So how would McMorris Rodgers respond if Trump actually fires Mueller?

 "He's said that he's not going to do that," McMorris Rodgers dodges.

But what if he does anyway?

"I'm not going to speculate," McMorris Rodgers says, chuckling, "He's said he's not going to do that."

Yet, Trump did fire FBI Director James Comey last year, saying on national TV that it was because the Russia scandal was a "made-up story" and "an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should’ve won."

Similarly, he told the Russians, shortly after Comey's firing, “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”

McMorris Rodgers shrugs that off too.

"In that case, the president decides who serves within his administration," McMorris Rodgers says. "You serve at the pleasure of the president. You have to be able to make those decisions."

So far, Mueller's wide-ranging investigation has resulted in indictments against 19 people and three companies. Besides Flynn, three Trump campaign advisors have pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI. Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has been indicted on a whole slew of financial crimes.

But McMorris Rodgers is not impressed.

"I have said that the investigation should be allowed to continue," McMorris Rodgers says. "Having said that, it's been well over a year, and it doesn’t seem like he is finding the evidence that people suggest exist.”

At times, there has been a lot of wild speculation, from, say, certain manic Twitter users. But there's also been a lot of evidence of malfeasance — or at least, attempted malfeasance — even considering how tight-lipped the Mueller investigation has been.

For example, we know that that Trump's son met with a Russian lawyer who was promising dirt on Hillary Clinton, telling a liaison over email, "If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer." We know that that Russian lawyer was feeding information to the Russian government (and also met with Clinton-allied Fusion GPS).

We know that Trump repeatedly pressured Attorney General Jeff Sessions to retake control of the Mueller investigation. We know that Trump's business partners continued to try to set up a Trump property deal in Moscow during the campaign.

We have the conclusion of the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee, which says that Russia intervened in the election to try to help Trump win.

Heck, we know that that Trump urged Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's emails, because he said that publicly. 
click to enlarge Cathy McMorris Rodgers is pretty blasé about the whole Russia investigation thing
Jorge Silva/Pool via The New York Times
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, at the APEC summit took in November 2017.

In other words, there's a whole lot of smoke. But as for fire, according to the New York Times, "no public evidence has surfaced connecting Mr. Trump’s advisers to the hacking or linking Mr. Trump himself to the Russian government’s disruptive efforts."

Yet, on potential scandals not involving Trump, McMorris Rodgers has been noticeably more eager to try to get to the truth.

Last year, McMorris Rodgers accused the media of "trying to brainwash America against some really good people" through its Russia coverage.

Contrast that with her statement, two and a half years into the investigation into 2012 Benghazi attacks:

“I do believe that the work that we’re doing in the Benghazi committee is very important,” McMorris Rodgers said in 2015. “We’ve not yet had important questions answered.”

Or contrast her feelings on the Russia investigation with her comments on Hillary Clinton's private email server, where she noted the "House has conducted several oversight hearings to investigate and provide transparency on Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state" and that Clinton put "Americans’ security at risk with her recklessness."

Or look at what she includes and what she doesn't in a recent article in the National Review last week lamenting the loss of public trust in the federal government. McMorris Rodgers mentioned a number of scandals, including the VA scandal and the IRS targeting conservative organizations with higher scrutiny for tax-exempt status.

In fact, she does mention the Russia scandal too — but only to cite the controversy around Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who had been investigating Trump.

If you consume mostly right-wing media outlets, like Fox News and the Federalist, that's likely your view too: To Fox viewers, the scandal is the investigation itself, not the actions of Trump or his campaign team.

"Congress must do its part to rebuild trust in our democracy," McMorris Rodgers writes in National Review. "That’s why I’m more committed than ever to demand the effectiveness and accountability that the American people expect and rightfully deserve from their government."

Whether she'll ever demand accountability for Trump as fervently as she did for Obama and Clinton remains to be seen. 

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Posted By on Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 1:59 PM

2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning to receive inaugural award at this year's Spokane Pride Parade
Matt Weigand
I don’t deserve this.

That’s what Mandy Manning thought when she heard the news. A text from Facebook Messenger had informed the Ferris High School teacher that she had been made a Guest of Honor at the 2018 Spokane Pride Parade and Rainbow Festival. Not only that, but she was going to be a recipient of the first ever Stonewall Impact Award from the event’s organizers, OutSpokane.

The news felt surreal to Manning. Surely there must have been someone more deserving than her, she thought. But Manning's recent small gesture of inclusivity had a big impact on the eight-member board of OutSpokane. When given the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States after being named the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, Manning took the chance to spread a message of acceptance for marginalized groups.

Wearing pins expressing her support of the LGBTQ+ community, she gave 45 letters written by refugee students living in Spokane to the president.

“So I had an opportunity to show my support of our various community members and I took the opportunity,” Manning says.

Her actions were not lost on Michael Jepson, OutSpokane's spokesperson. Jepson explained that her gesture of inclusively struck a nerve within the members of the board. They had to do something to recognize her actions.

“The fact that she took letters from her marginalized students to give to the president when receiving this award, it really resonated with several of us on the board,” Jepson says. “And we looked for something to do to recognize her. And we realized that we needed to recognize her very specifically for the Spirit of Stonewall because what she does is reflect the spirit of equality and standing for the marginalized.”

The Stonewall Impact Award will be presented to Manning at the Rainbow Festival at Riverfront Park’s Lilac Bowl at 1:15 pm on Sat, June 9. At the ceremony, Manning is set to give a 5-10 minute speech spreading her message of equality for all. The award is the first of its kind from OutSpokane and will be given out in the future whenever the nonprofit deems it necessary.

“People don’t understand how much they mean just by doing the decent thing, the right thing, especially our allies. They don’t understand how being a friendly face, a caring face, just being a decent human being gets you a lot of cred,” Jepson says.“She inspires her own award.”

Spokane Annual Pride Parade and Rainbow Festival • Sun, June 9, from 10 am-10 pm • Riverfront Park Lilac Meadows • 507 N. Howard St. • outspokane.org/pride-parade • 720-7609

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33 Artists Market @ The Pergola Event Center

Sat., July 26, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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