How the bomb that didn’t go off changed the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March

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“We don’t want them to win,” says Walker.

Spokane Police Lt. Joe Walker standing in front of the bench where the backpack bomb was left. [Photo: Young Kwak]

Last year, quick thinking from police and city workers prevented the march from turning into a bloodbath after a bomb was discovered along the route, at the intersection of Main Avenue and Washington Street downtown.

A federal investigation netted Kevin Harpham, a 37-year-old Stevens County resident, on charges related to planting the bomb. He eventually took a plea deal and was sentenced to 32 years in prison at the end of the year.

With the culprit behind bars, police, city officials and the march organizer say there are two things left to do: secure the parade, and stand up against the hateful motivations that brought Harpham and his bomb to the downtown intersection.

http://www.inlander.com/spokane/article-17382-march-on.html

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1. kick for MLK day (nt)