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Spokane Valley residents, faith leaders demand apology after councilmember's social‑media post; mayor reaffirms inclusivity
Summary
Dozens of Spokane Valley residents, faith leaders and advocacy groups criticized Councilwoman Jessica Yeager's social‑media remarks and demanded an apology or resignation; Mayor Pam Haley read a 2017 inclusivity resolution and the council agreed to reaffirm it. Public pressure and calls for formal discipline were raised but a formal complaint process was advised by staff.
Dozens of Spokane Valley residents and faith leaders used two public‑comment periods at the Nov. 25 city council meeting to demand an apology or resignation from Councilwoman Jessica Yeager over a recent social‑media post they described as Islamophobic.
Mayor Pam Haley opened the meeting by reading the council's 2017 resolution affirming Spokane Valley as an inclusive city and told the audience that "the council member Yeager social media post does not represent the values or views of myself." The mayor invited the council to reaffirm the 2017 resolution and the body indicated consensus to do so.
Community members spoke in large numbers, many saying Yeager's post and subsequent comments targeted Muslim residents and harmed public safety and belonging. "I'm a Muslim, and I live in Spokane. I'm here to call for a public apology and to hold this council to account for the comments made by Councilwoman Yeager," said Zane during remote public comment. Faith leader Magmana Shirazi, speaking for several local clergy, called Yeager's language "offensive" and urged the council to issue a statement that includes an apology and a regular invitation for Muslim community members to give opening invocations.
Several speakers described local incidents they said were part of a broader rise in anti‑Muslim bias. Sister Susan Wells of the Sisters of the Holy Names said the city's leaders have a responsibility to consider the impact of officials' language on residents'safety and dignity. Abrar Kalentin of the local Muslim community called Yeager's post "hate speech from an elected official" and asked the council to take concrete steps to rebuild trust.
Some commenters asked the council to pursue formal discipline. Councilmember Merkle said he would bring a broader item to an advanced agenda and requested a stronger statement and apology at the next meeting. City attorneys and staff advised that the council's governance manual provides a Chapter 5 complaint and investigation process as the formal route for allegations of misconduct and that censure or other remedies flow from that process.
The mayor and several council members emphasized the city's commitment to inclusivity and the need to follow the governance manual's procedures if members want formal discipline pursued. The meeting record shows broad public demand for an apology and for educational outreach; the council agreed to reaffirm its 2017 resolution and to consider next steps under the governance manual.
The council did not vote on formal discipline at the Nov. 25 meeting. Councilmember Merkel signaled he would seek an advanced‑agenda action and staff pointed to Chapter 5 of the governance manual as the administrative channel for complaints and a possible subsequent censure motion.
