Spokane officials declared a state of emergency Wednesday night after protests outside an ICE facility escalated, following a public call to action from former city councilman Ben Stuckart.
Key Facts:
- Former Spokane City Councilman Ben Stuckart urged residents to protest an ICE detainment of a Venezuelan asylum seeker he had guardianship over.
- Protests erupted downtown, leading Mayor Lisa Brown to issue a citywide curfew from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday.
- Police declared the protest unlawful, used tear gas to disperse the crowd, and arrested several people, including Stuckart.
- Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns condemned the unrest and affirmed support for law enforcement’s response.
- Stuckart was held on $500 bail and released Thursday morning, later defending his actions on social media.
The Rest of The Story:
Former councilman Ben Stuckart’s Facebook post triggered the protest.
He announced that ICE had detained a 21-year-old Venezuelan man he had become the legal guardian of just three weeks prior.
Stuckart’s post included an urgent plea for supporters to gather and physically block the deportation bus at the ICE office in Spokane.
The crowd that assembled quickly grew, prompting Spokane police and the sheriff’s department to label the protest an unlawful gathering.
Mayor Lisa Brown responded with an emergency curfew covering key areas of downtown and Riverfront Park.
Tear gas was eventually deployed, and arrests were made, including that of Stuckart.
Former Spokane city council president Ben Stuckart was just taken away in cuffs. He called for this protest, when he said ICE was going to deport a man from Venezuela who was seeking asylum. pic.twitter.com/1xM9IlS40g
— Melissa Luck ☘ (@MelissaKXLY4) June 12, 2025
After posting bail, he issued a statement defending his decision: “Those that judge my actions harshly are on the wrong side of history.”
City and county leaders expressed concern over the disruption.
Commissioner Josh Kerns highlighted the unacceptable nature of the unrest, emphasizing public safety and law enforcement support.
Mayor Brown urged peaceful protest and empathy but reinforced that violations of city law would be addressed.
Commentary:
Ben Stuckart’s emotional plea may have come from a place of personal conviction, but his call to action ignited a volatile situation.
Rather than working through legal or institutional channels, he escalated matters by encouraging citizens to confront law enforcement outside a federal facility.
Given recent national unrest—including violent, insurrection-like scenes in Los Angeles—any public figure should be especially cautious when stoking civil agitation.
By urging people to “sit in front of the bus,” Stuckart invited confrontation, not cooperation.
His arrest was foreseeable and avoidable.
Stuckart’s background as a former councilman adds weight to his actions.
He’s not a private citizen unaware of civic responsibility—he’s someone who once helped govern the city.
That makes his call for spontaneous disruption all the more reckless.
Protesting ICE detentions isn’t new, but the tone and timing of this protest felt engineered for chaos.
Even Mayor Brown, no hardliner herself, had to intervene with a curfew and police dispersal tactics, including tear gas.
Spokane, like any city, has a duty to maintain order.
Families, businesses, and police should not be held hostage to political theater.
While Stuckart claimed moral high ground, it came at the cost of community stability.
It’s hard to imagine that the young man Stuckart was trying to help is better off now that the protest turned chaotic.
Actions have consequences—not only for the protester, but for those they claim to protect.
The Bottom Line:
A former city official encouraged citizens to confront ICE directly, sparking protests that forced Spokane into emergency mode.
The mayor had to impose a curfew, police used tear gas, and arrests followed.
While Stuckart defends his actions as morally justified, his tactics triggered an avoidable escalation that put community safety at risk.
Leaders must act responsibly, especially when tensions are already high.
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