There’s been talk for many years about the fact that Seattle controls eastern Washington, and Portland controls eastern Oregon.
Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Northern Idaho are very much alike.
What would be be like to have those three geographical locations hive off and become the 51st state?
SPOKANE — A fundraising event for the proposed creation of a 51st state called Liberty started on a tense note Thursday evening as onetime loyalists of state Rep. Matt Shea held what they called a “silent protest” and stood toe-to-toe with armed security guards.
The Liberty State Gala drew about 200 people to the CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley. Supporters of the new Christian conservative state — which would span parts of Washington and Oregon, as well as Idaho, Montana and Wyoming — raised money by auctioning pies and other desserts.
The lineup of speakers included Shea, a Spokane Valley Republican who has championed the Liberty State movement; Spokane City Councilor Mike Fagan; Spokane City Council candidate Tim Benn; and Loren Culp, the police chief in Republic, Wash., who made national headlines when he pledged not to enforce a controversial gun control initiative that voters passed in November.
County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, former Treasurer Rob Chase and gun activist Anthony Bosworth also were in attendance, as were Barry and Anne Byrd, who lead the Marble Community Fellowship in northern Stevens County. (In 1988, Barry Byrd helped pen a Christian Identity manifesto that referred to Jews as “anti-Christs” and condemned interracial marriage, though the Byrds have since tried to distance themselves from racist ideology.)At one point during her own speech Thursday, Shea’s legislative assistant, Rene’ Holaday, said supporters of the 51st state idea were bound by a common sentiment: “It’s either going to be bloodshed or Liberty State.”