LCB responds to protests targeting employees

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Local elected officials are speaking out about recent protests that took demonstrators to the home of a state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) employee more than a week ago.

On November 23, 2020, a group of demonstrators, led by Joey Gibson from Vancouver, Wash.-based Patriot Prayer, held a rally at John Dam Plaza in Richland before some of the group then assembled near the home of an LCB employee, using a bull horn to call the man out, encouraging to stop enforcing Gov. Jay Inslee's shutdown orders that prevent restaurants from opening their dining rooms.

"We're a great community," said Kennewick Mayor Don Britain at Tuesday night's City Council Meeting. "And in no way do I want to see our citizens going to people's houses and demonstrating in front of their house when they are just doing their job."

Britain recently led the effort to collaborate with Pasco, Richland, and West Richland in writing a letter to Gov. Inslee encouraging him to allow businesses, including restaurants, to reopen.

It's not know if the Governor's office has responded at all to the letter.

"It is unfortunate that there are misguided efforts by a handful of protestors to go to an LCB officer’s home to protest.  Officer are just doing the job that is expected of them," said Julie Graham, spokesperson for the LCB in a statement to Newsradio 610 KONA.  "The agency supports freedom of speech and peaceful protest, however sending texts, calling or protesting at LCB officer’s homes will not deter them from doing their job."

The current shutdown orders are in effect until December 14, 2020.