Ozzie Knezovich, Mike Fagan explain comments on Obama, transgender rights at NAACP forum

Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan tried to explain his view of transgender rights and restroom use during a forum sponsored by the Spokane chapter of the NAACP on Tuesday night.

He was joined at a panel discussion on rhetoric and responsibility by Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who talked about his views of criminal justice after he blamed former President Barack Obama for emboldening people to “hunt and assassinate” law enforcement officers. The sheriff made the comments at a rally supporting President Donald Trump in March.

The main floor of the Community Building downtown was packed with more than 100 people to hear a discussion of hot-button issues, including the disproportional weight of criminal justice against the black community.

NAACP chapter President Phillip Tyler set the stage by telling the crowd, “Your anger is valid.”

“Those comments struck a nerve with our members,” he said, asking the crowd to listen and be respectful.

Jac Archer, the vice chair of Spokane County Democrats, has a nonbinary transgender identity that is neither male nor female, Archer told the audience.

Archer challenged Fagan on his opposition to a Washington State Human Rights Commission regulation guaranteeing access to restrooms and locker rooms based on the person’s gender identity.

Fagan said the regulation has created a hazard for women being followed into restrooms by men posing as transgender, creating a risk of assault.

“You were talking about a threat that doesn’t exist,” Archer said. “It’s an imaginary crime.”

Fagan said he raised his opposition to the restroom rule in March during a pro-Trump Spirit of America rally in Spokane Valley.

He repeated what he said were his comments at that time, comments that were later criticized: “Ladies, next time you go into the bathroom, I will follow you in.”

He turned back to Archer and said, “I don’t know what to call you.”

Archer responded, “Call me Jac.”

The councilman tried to build credibility by talking about a relative born with both male and female genitalia who required surgery.

Archer said that is not the same as gender identity, which is often latent and develops later.

“Quit the hate,” said one woman who identified herself as lesbian.

Knezovich said he is concerned about radicalized hate in which police officers and others have been killed.

He also said he is concerned about militarization of law enforcement.

“Something that truly bothers me. Americans are killing each other,” Knezovich said. “We have a problem. We are looking for ways to divide ourselves and hate each other.”