Spokane County GOP Chair apologizes for hosting controversial speaker, as groups organize protest

Hawk Hammer by Hawk Hammer

Spokane County Republican Central Committee Board Chairwoman Cecily Wright is now apologizing for inviting James Allsup to speak at a Northwest Grassroots meeting earlier this month, as social justice groups from across the county are calling her out for giving James Allsup a platform to speak.

Northwest Grassroots is run by Wright and her husband, and is not affiliated with the official county Republican party, but is Tea-Party leaning. For more information on the group click here.

Allsup is the former head of the Washington State University College Republican’s, which he helped found. He resigned that post after appearing at the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has also worked with Identity Evropa, a white nationalist group according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Most recently, he was elected a Whitman County Republican Party Precinct Commission Officer, after running unopposed. That party also distancing themselves from Allsup, telling KXLY they are looking into ways to make sure he is never seated.

At the time of his election, he was denounced by almost all levels of the state’s Republican party, including Spokane County’s.

Cecily Wright released this statement:

“Mr. Allsup has never been affiliated in any official capacity with the Spokane County GOP. His past statements, affiliations and actions are deeply out-of-step with the values of the Republican Party, as well as the values of the Spokane County GOP and our members.”

Just a month later however, she invited him to speak about his experience of being “Label Lynched”, with such labels as white nationalist and racist.

In a video of the meeting posted on YouTube, she was seen introducing him, and allowing him to speak for around 15 minutes.

“Its a huge problem for elected officials to be embracing white nationalists,” said Shar Lichty, organizer with the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane. “I don’t see how you can do your job effectively supporting that ideology.”

Allsup has previously denied being a white nationalist.

During his speech he called out the left, saying they try to scare people into not expressing what you think. He told those in attendance not to trust the media, and made comments pointing to how President Trump is encouraging a new generation of politicians willing to win “un-apologetically” and to “reject the moral framework the left sets up”.

“There are some things you shouldn’t be tolerant of,” he said on the video, “there are some things so revolting and we are talking socially, we shouldn’t be tolerant of.”

Earlier in the video he pointed to having trans-gender individuals teaching children and the gay agenda as being “social degradation”.

In reaching out to Wright, she said she had been aware of some of his previous affiliations, but had chosen not to cancel his appearance. She initially blamed her husband for having coordinated the speech with Allsup after he reached out.

She said her intention had been to give him the chance to clear his name and that it had been agreed upon prior.

“I felt like it was not supporting a racist,” she said, “it was giving him the opportunity to clear his name. I think we should given anyone the chance to clear their name.”

She said he did not address those labels and she felt duped.

“I’m sorry that it happened and I’m very disappointed in my judgment,” she said.

But social justice groups are saying that her apparent flip flop from a public statement denouncing him, to privately supporting him leaves serious questions un-answered.

“Which stance are you going to take,” said Lichty, “because you can’t take both.”

In response to the meeting, The Peace and Justice League of Spokane, in addition to Spokane Community Against Racism, the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission, Spokane NOW, Families Against Bigotry, FUSE Washington and other groups have organized a rally against white nationalism on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Spokane County Courthouse.

Wright’s full written statement after speaking with KXLY on the phone is here:

“Northwest Grassroots is a group, independent of the Republican Party that does not shy away from controversial subjects.

Mr. Allsup reached out to my husband, John Charleston, the head of NW Grassroots, to discuss what he feels is an untrue characterization of him as a white supremacist.

John asked Allsup if any of the racist characterizations were true and was assured they weren’t. After talking with Mr. Allsup, John felt that he had been misrepresented and invited him to speak about the inaccurate “labeling” at our next NW Grassroots meeting without my knowledge or consent.

The segment was called “label lynching” and I had been told Mr. Allsup was there to dispel the label he has been identified with as a racist and white supremacist – a chance to defend and explain himself.

As you can see from the video I did not praise him, I did speak about the need to do research before accepting what is said about people.

Allsup did speak, said nothing controversial but did NOT denounce the vile, racist views he is associated with as was expected.

From there the meeting went on to the open mic segment.

Mr. Allsup left the meeting after he spoke.

I remain, as does the Republican Party, committed to standing against white supremacy, racism, and bigotry in all forms.”

That does not mean that we deny people the right to free speech but it is certainly a lesson to more thoroughly research individuals before giving them a platform to speak.

Racism and bigotry have no place in America. In my youth I took part in Civil Right Marches, worked with the first minority bank in Los Angeles to train the employees. When asked by the President of a different bank to fire a good employee because he was gay, I resigned because that was against my beliefs. It was wrong. Nothing has changed I still have the same beliefs.

I hope the community and the Spokane County GOP understand that I consider this a serious mistake in my judgment and hope my explanation and apology is accepted.”

KXLY reached out to Allsup on Facebook and have not heard back.

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