Protest, Boot, and the Law | Spokane News

Spokane News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Aug 12, 2026 · 1m

A Portland protest turned tense when Catherine Esperanza, 30, was charged with interfering with a police officer during a May 2026 demonstration outside an ICE building. Prosecutors claim she was part of a human chain pulling an officer off a detainee, but her defense argues she was unaware an arrest was happening, was pushed by officers, and grabbed the nearest object to steady herself while recovering from a broken leg. The case underscores the legal and physical complexities of protests, as DA’s office prosecutes roughly half of similar incidents—with charges ranging from trespassing to…