So this is what many of your neighbors were doing today at the Hands Off protests here in Spokane and across the United States. I was pleased to witness a peaceful, well-organized gathering, and to capture some of the energy rising up from all facets of our community.
I tend not to get political on here or elsewhere for that matter. We are more than our politics. Yet, what is happening to our government at the hands of reckless and hostile leadership, I feel, requires all of us to speak up. To voice our opposition, our resistance to an attempted destruction of much of what makes us American, and more, citizens of this planet.
These moments remind us that democracy thrives when people engage. Regardless of political beliefs, we should all want a country where dignity, compassion, and justice prevail. What I witnessed today was not division, but community standing together for these shared values.
I believe in our capacity to listen, even when we disagree. To remember that behind every political position is a person with hopes, fears, and dreams not so different from our own. These photos capture not just protest, but people caring deeply about our collective future.
The greatest threat isn’t disagreement—it’s silence. When we see injustice, speaking up isn’t partisan—it’s American; it’s human. I’m grateful to live in a country where peaceful assembly remains our right and our responsibility.
