Gun rights advocates organized a protest Monday calling for the removal of councilor Bob Blakey from the Lewiston City Council.
The Recall Brad Little & Bob Blakey protest was held in response to Blakey suggesting the city council pass a resolution asking state legislators to allow Idaho cities more authority over firearm regulations during protests.
About 30 people attended the event along with a handful of counter protesters who wielded signs which read “I stand with Bob Blakey.” None of the advocates wore masks, though the counter protesters did.
Left: Counter protesters stand with signs supporting Councilor Bob Blakey across the street from Lewiston City Hall | Anteia McCollum
Right: A group of protesters waits in front of the Lewiston City Library for the city council meeting to begin | Anteia McCollum
The advocates were led by Heather Rogers, the same woman who organized Defend Lewiston/2A Rally in early June. She attended Monday’s city council meeting armed.
“I’m not opposed to the Second Amendment,” Blakey said. “I’m opposed to public display. I think there is a place for (open carry) and there’s a place not for it. What I saw downtown that day was a place not for it.”
Rogers said open carry was a better option for protection when a person, especially women, felt unsafe with a concealed weapon or when they felt things like pepper spray were insufficient.
In May, Rogers was cited for firing a handgun within city limits. She said she shot into the air to break up a domestic dispute at her home. Rogers and another witness said choking was involved.
According to a report from Officer Matt Anderson, there had been a fight, but the man, Christopher Sinclair, and the woman he was with said there was no choking. Anderson’s report stated the other witness intervened before Rogers decided to get involved.
“I had some people over and a man attacked the woman he was with,” Rogers said. “He attacked her and he was strangling her. I went to go pull him off her and he tried going after me, so I ran in my house. My gun was put up, so I pulled my gun out and shot it in the air and told him to get off my property.”
Idaho law states any person 18 years of age and older can conceal carry a firearm without a permit outside the confines of a city, given they are not otherwise disqualified. Open carry is legal within city limits as well.
When Rogers addressed the city council, she discussed the rights provided by the Second Amendment, the presence of other groups the day of the Defend Lewiston rally and the results of riots in other cities.
“What we were worried about is what is happening to other cities,” Rogers said. “Seattle, for example. Their city is in turmoil.”
Rogers later said her concern of looting did not stem from the presence of Black Lives Matter protesters a mile away from the Defend Lewiston rally but rather from possible outside groups, which she said could come in and wreak havoc.
Wilson Boots, who organized the protest in Lewiston against Idaho’s COVID-19 shutdown, attended Monday’s protest and spoke to the city council.
Wilson reiterated the point of the Defend Lewiston rally was to prevent the protest from turning into a riot. He did not specify which protest he was concerned would turn into a riot. He responded to Blakey’s suggestion by encouraging the council to better understand the U.S. Constitution.
“As far as doing away with the ability to carry guns, what’s sad to me is how many people don’t understand our Constitution, federal or state Constitution,” Boots said. “I think before you write too many more letters, you might bone up on what the constitution actually says.”
Boots declined further comment.
This article has been updated to correct the title of Rogers’ previous rally. Rogers’ Defend Lewiston/2A rally was not associated with the Protect LC Valley rally.
Anteia McCollum can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @antxiam5