During the legislative session, dozens of people protested inside and outside the Idaho Capitol against discrimination. Monday is their chance to stand up in court and say why they did it.
During the legislative session, 111 people were arrested, some more than once, for standing silently and blocking doors in protest at the Capitol. They were all charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
The loose-knit group known as Add the 4 Words wants lawmakers to hear and pass an anti-discrimination law that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It would make it illegal for landlords, employers, and most businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Former Idaho Senator Nicole LeFavour is one of the organizers of the protests. She says it’s time for lawmakers to listen, after eight years of trying to add the four words to the Idaho Human Rights Act.
“Our stories are multiplied by a thousand across the state and that people in their own districts have stories like these,” says LeFavour, “and that it’s really time to put politics aside and put everything aside and do what’s right for the people in their districts and what’s right for our state and finally just say cruelty is wrong, say discrimination is wrong and do something about it.”
LeFavour says appearing in court means protesters will get a chance totell their stories about discrimination and why they chose to defy the law and face arrest.
The last 23 people charged with trespassing will be sentenced Monday by 4th District Magistrate Judge Thomas Watkins. LeFavour says defendants will likely have to complete community service time and will probably have to pay court costs, but it’s up to the judge what they face.
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