SPOKANE, Wash. — Protesters and counter-protesters gathered on opposite ends of a sidewalk Sunday morning outside 2nd Base Espresso in Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood.
On one side, protesters held pride flags and signs opposing the coffee shop’s recent message posted on their billboard. On the other side, supporters of the coffee shop defended the business owner’s right to free speech.
The espresso stand has been posting political messages for years. Previous signs have included messages supporting ICE deportations and gun rights. The most recent message, which referred to the transgender community in a negative way, prompted Sunday’s protest…