(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)
SPOKANE, Wash. -About a dozen Spokane County GOP representatives stood outside the Spokane County Superior Court building Thursday morning to denounce the Northwest Grassroots movement and 22-year-old James Allsup.
This comes after a YouTube video surfaced showing the now former Spokane County GOP chairwoman Cecily Wright hosting Allsup at an event.
Nearly four months after becoming chairwoman of the Spokane County GOP. Cecily Wright resigned Wednesday night. Her resignation came 24 hours after a video of her surfaced privately hosting the controversial 22-year-old James Allsup on July 11th, 2018. Allsup is affiliated with the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says he warned other people within the Spokane Republican Party a month ago to stay away from Allsup "My advice was not to do this because Allsup is the cancer and he should not be allowed to speak to anybody that could be associated with the Republican Party,"said Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.
In a news conference Thursday morning, local GOP leaders spoke out against Allsup and the Northwest Grassroots organization following Wright's resignation saying that hate and racism have no place in the Republican Party "Hate has no place here in the Republican Party, intolerance has no place in the Republican party," said Michael Baumgartner who represents Spokane's 6th Legislative District.
In June, Allsup was certified as a precinct officer with the Republican party in Whitman County. Following that news, the now former Spokane County GOP chairwoman said in a statement that he was quote "Not affiliated in any official capacity with the Spokane County GOP and that Allsup's past statements affiliations and actions are deeply out-of-step with the values of the Republican Party."
State Senator Michael Baumgartner says he was caught off guard by the video calling it a “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” moment "Again the idea that a county party chair just ahead of time said we reject Mr. Allsup he has no place here. Then a month later she was being introduced at a meeting is just befuddling," added Baumgartner.
Baumgartner also slammed Allsup calling him dangerous "I think at best when he first came on the scene I saw him as sort of an amateur, immature, provocateur, and at worst a very dangerous person."
Washington State Democrats Statement to KHQ:
"Cecily Wright did the right thing in resigning. Someone who uses a term like "label lynching" should not be in any sort of leadership position. I was disappointed, however, to read that Republican U.S. Senate candidate -- and former Washington State Republican Party chairwoman -- Susan Hutchison seemed unable to answer a simple question about whether someone who defends white supremacists should resign from Republican leadership."
James Allsup statement to KHQ:
“The GOP establishment and figures like Cecily Wright may claim to be "conservatives," but in reality, they have conserved nothing. When the media and the left tells them to jump, they only ask "how high?" Unfortunately, Cecily Wright and the establishment GOP learned nothing from the very well-received speech I gave at her Northwest Grassroots meeting: when Republicans capitulate and cave to the left, they lose. It is illuminating to me that the local Republican establishment agrees immediately with far-left media outlets and activists, while throwing their own base under the bus.
I look forward to continuing to work locally & nationally- getting hundreds of other young people involved in politics to fight for pro-America immigration & trade policies, while ignoring the slander & lies from the far-left media.”
Spokane County GOP Statement to KHQ
“Effective immediately, Cecily Wright resigns as Chair of the Spokane County Republican Central Committee. Vice Chair Isaiah Paine becomes Acting Chair.
Mr. Paine this morning issued the following statement:
"The Spokane County Republican Party remains firmly committed to standing against white supremacy, racism, and bigotry in all forms. As such, we are disappointed in the lack in judgment shown by our former chair in allowing Mr. Allsup to speak at Northwest Grassroots. Mr. Allsup does not represent the GOP, and his opinions are contrary to our beliefs as a party, and as a country. Those who espouse such views must not be given a platform to spread hate and prejudice.
We stand by the statement issued in June denouncing Mr. Allsup and his beliefs, and follow our words with action. In accordance, Cecily Wright has resigned as Spokane County GOP Chair. The Republican party is the party of Lincoln. A party founded on the principles of freedom, liberty, equality, and opportunity. Ideals for which Lincoln paid the ultimate price. Those principles still guide the Republican party today. The future of the Republican Party does not belong to the likes of Mr. Allsup. The future of the Republican Party is rooted in its history, in a belief that all are created equal.
Our mission has never changed. We will continue to fight for the rights of all people regardless of color, race, ethnicity, gender, or political party. This is a not a partisan issue. Racism and bigotry have no legitimate place in any political party. That’s why I’ll be at the rally right here later today as we all face this challenge together.”