The Spokane Public Library remains open to homeless patrons and drag queens -- and months of

[TexasTowelie]

The Spokane Public Library remains open to homeless patrons and drag queens — and months of controversy


It's January when a fight breaks out at the entrance of the downtown Spokane library. Security guard Tyler Gulliford is escorting a homeless man named Utrillo Morris. Morris wouldn't stop rapping loudly along to his music, so Gulliford asked him to leave.

But before he exits, Morris throws his bottle of water at the guard. And then as Morris turns away, the security guard reaches out and either shoves or touches Morris's shoulder, the grainy security camera footage shows. Morris then spins around and starts throwing punches. Gulliford goes to the hospital with a sore jaw and ribs. Morris goes to jail.

For a time, that's the end of it. But then in May, mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward uploaded part of the surveillance video to social media as a symbol of how unsafe downtown and the library had become. "Our beautiful library has turned into a transient center, and that's NOT ok!"

Her critics accuse her of fearmongering. Her supporters echo her concerns.

Read more: https://www.inlander.com/spokane/the-spokane-public-library-remains-open-to-homeless-patrons-and-drag-queens-and-months-of-controversy/Content?oid=17851610
(Spokane Inlander)