SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley Councilmember Jessica Yaeger is under fire for sharing an Islamophobic post last week.
A rally took place at Spokane Valley City Hall before Tuesday night’s council meeting, demanding accountability and reinforcing the message that “everyone is welcome here.”
The controversy began last week when Yaeger shared a post that begins with “I am a proud Islamophobe.”
In a Facebook video posted Monday, Yaeger defended her actions.
“I will never apologize for exercising my First Amendment right to speak plainly and honestly,” Yaeger said. “Being a leader means saying the hard things others are afraid to say.”
Yaeger’s video did not directly address the Islamophobic claim. She has not responded to requests for clarification.
Spokane Valley resident Janessa Lawson criticized the council member’s stance.
“I don’t think a leader should be bigoted,” Lawson said. “You have a whole constituency behind you, and part of that group is going to be people who are Islamic and probably proudly so, and rightfully so. You know, that’s their chosen religion and that’s what they have the right to do.”
In her video message, Yaeger shared criticisms of modern American society.
“We have a growing population that is choosing not to assimilate to the American way of life—our laws, our freedoms, and our cultural expectations of equality and individual liberty,” Yaeger said.
Protesters said her comments about assimilation demand erasing culture and identity.
Those who gathered also gave out stickers that read, “We stand with our Muslim neighbors.”
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