A crowd packed Battle Ground City Hall, while many more gathered outside carrying signs in protest on Monday, June 1, as Mayor Eric Overholser read two proclamations supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and recognizing a federal executive designation of the antifa movement, short for “anti-fascist,” as a domestic terrorist organization.
More than 50 speakers addressed the council during a public comment period lasting over an hour, with each speaker limited to one minute. Commenters were divided over the proclamations, with some raising concerns about LGBTQ+ recognition, religion in local government and the divisive political direction of the city, while others expressed support for ICE and opposition to the antifa movement.
During and prior to the meeting, several dozen protesters carried signs outside of city hall criticizing the proclamations and expressing support for LGBTQ+ residents after Overholser declined two LGBTQ-related proclamation requests, including one for Pride Month. Counterprotesters supporting the mayor’s proclamations were also present outside the building.
Before the proclamations were read, Councilmember Jeanie Kuypers moved to remove both items from the agenda. The motion did not pass.
“I just would like to reiterate that proclamations are not city policy,” Kuypers said. “They do not reflect a formal council discussion or a vote of this council. As such, proclamations do not result in changes to our city operations. However, it’s evident that they can create division rather than unity, distraction and unnecessary financial and public relations impacts. All the intentions may be good. I think that we need to reduce the temperature around some of the proclamations being presented today. So I’m requesting that the ICE and antifa proclamations be removed from today’s agenda and excluded from future agendas.”
Former Mayor Troy McCoy was the only councilmember to support the motion.
Arrest interrupts proclamation reading
The meeting was briefly recessed shortly after Overholser began reading the first proclamation when an attendee shouted obscenities toward the mayor.
Officers moved to remove the individual from council chambers. During the removal, the attendee could be heard yelling, “I’m a citizen and I’m allowed to f***ing be here.”
“F*** you. You’re f***ing fascist.”
“F*** you, f*** you, shame on you motherf***ers,” they said.
The individual did not cooperate with officers and was arrested after being removed from the room. The person was booked for disorderly conduct. The case was referred to the Battle Ground prosecuting attorney for review as of press time.
Councilmembers and public commenters noted a larger-than-usual police presence at a council meeting. Later, Kuypers questioned how additional staffing, police and overtime costs related to recent controversies could affect the city’s budget.
Overholser read the ICE proclamation while the attendee was arrested outside the room. The proclamation stated that immigration enforcement is essential to national sovereignty, public safety and democratic governance. It also praised ICE officers and agents for enforcing federal law.
The second proclamation recognized a September 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump that designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. It affirmed support for law enforcement, public safety and the rule of law, and condemned political violence and property destruction.
Both proclamations were accepted by the individuals who submitted them following Overholser’s reading. Jesse McCarty accepted the antifa proclamation while Paula Ochoa accepted the ICE proclamation. Both parties spoke in support of the recognition, thanking city leadership.
State Sen. Adrian Cortes of Legislative District 18, a former Battle Ground mayor and councilmember, criticized the city’s recent direction in a written statement on social media following the meeting.
“As a former Mayor and Councilmember of Battle Ground, I am deeply disappointed to see my hometown making headlines for all the wrong reasons,” Cortes wrote. “The kind of political extremism we often see in large cities is now being injected into our small, tight knit community by our mayor and some of his colleagues. That is not who we are. Local government works best when it focuses on bringing people together and delivering results. I urge our mayor and city leaders to stop the political theater, focus on the issues within their responsibility, and get back to working for the people who elected them.”
Divisive public comment
Before speakers took the microphone, McCoy moved to maintain the council’s standard three-minute limit per speaker. Overholser had proposed reducing comments to one minute per speaker due to the large turnout.
The motion failed in a 3-4 vote. McCoy, Kuypers and Councilmember Shane Bowman supported keeping the three-minute limit.
Several speakers argued the proclamations were inappropriate for a nonpartisan city government and risked increasing tension in the community. One speaker who identified himself only as Greg said he has experienced threats based on the color of his skin despite being born in the U.S. and living in Battle Ground for 20 years.
“Recently, in Battle Ground, I have (walked) the parking lots on the street where people have told me to go back home, you’re Mexican,” Greg said. “A car has tried to hit me, and I heard it as he sped by: ‘Go back to China.’ This is what divisive issues do. You say you do not want divisiveness with these proclamations, but this city council, certain city councilmembers have done this to our community and have made it less livable. I hope you do better in the future.”
Liz, of Battle Ground, who also did not share her last name, argued proclamations concerning antifa were irrelevant to the city.
“I oppose violence, intimidation, vandalism, threats, regardless (of) who commits them,” she said. “But I also believe we should be careful about labeling people or groups without clear facts. My request is simple. If there (are) documented incidents that justify this proclamation, please share them with the public.”
“Thank you, Liz. That’s your time. And I will say that I think we just had an antifa moment here earlier, too,” Overholser replied, referring to the earlier arrest as her public comment period ended.
Battle Ground resident David Terry challenged the ICE proclamation by citing polling he said showed declining public support for the agency.
“We killed citizens in our own streets,” he added, referring to ICE operations. “We’ve deported people without due process, and we failed to focus on criminals.”
During public comment, some attendees, including Terry, referenced an Oregon Public Broadcasting investigation published April 30. The report, titled “A Christian Vision for Battle Ground,” examined connections between Maddox Industrial Transformer and Christian localist movements in the city.
Overholser is employed by Maddox and previously appeared in the podcast series “The Battle Ground Project,” which described itself as an experiment in Christian localism. The podcast also featured Maddox CEO Camden Spiller and Councilmember Victoria Ferrer. The audio has since been removed from hosting sites.
Spiller has said his investments in Battle Ground are partly motivated by his Christian faith. Public property records show that corporations affiliated with Spiller own more than 30 properties in the city. Deputy Mayor Aimee Vaile’s husband works for Maddox. Vaile is also vice chair of the Clark County Republican Party.
Brent Hennrich, of Vancouver, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in a Democratic primary for Washington’s Third Congressional District, also criticized both proclamations.
“Recognizing ICE as a positive force means failing to understand the shocking amount of harm that’s happened to the community, especially our immigrant community and people of color,” Hennrich said. “We cannot stand to endorse that as OK, let alone expressly support that. As for (the) anti-(antifa) proclamation, what frustrates me is the rhetoric has been weaponized to demonize anyone who does not follow a specific way of thinking. My grandfather fought against fascism in World War II. We as a country once stood united against fascism. Being a Democrat and being called antifa is a badge I will wear proudly within our history.”
Other speakers defended the proclamations and thanked Overholser for bringing them forward during public comment.
Tyler Long, a Battle Ground resident, precinct committee officer with the Clark County Republican Party and leadership team member at Master’s Bible Church in Vancouver, urged supporters online to attend the meeting.
Speaking before the council, Long argued the proclamations reflected community values.
“I want to thank you, Mayor Overholser, for your wisdom and leadership in making these two proclamations regarding ICE and antifa,” Long said “Each of these are 80/20 issues, if not 90/10.”
Long said the proclamations do not cause division in the community but reveal it, adding, “the contrast needs to be painted.”
“By these proclamations, you are telling your residents that they are protected by the law here, that neither ICE nor local police will be impeded by their own government, and those who wish to carry (out) violence against law-abiding citizens are not given license here,” he said. “The proclamations communicate to the public, this is the worldview and moral framework through which I perform my duties.”
Long previously appeared in reporting by The Reflector regarding anti-levy political mailers distributed during a Battle Ground Public Schools levy election in February. Public Disclosure Commission records show that Long privately funded the mailers, while the Washington state Republican Party and the Clark County Republican Party were listed as sponsors. Long acknowledged financing the mailers in an interview with The Reflector. The state party has denied involvement and county party officials told the commission they did not financially support the campaign. As of press time, Long remained under investigation by the commission. The district’s levy failed during the Feb. 10 election.
On the same day as the Battle Ground meeting, Clark County Chair Sue Marshall issued a Pride Month proclamation. The Ridgefield City Council issued a Pride Month proclamation the week prior.
Mayor defends proclamations
In a written response to questions from The Reflector after the meeting about concerns from citizens and councilmembers, Overholser defended the proclamations, arguing that the city’s proclamation process is intended to recognize issues residents consider important rather than to establish official city policy.
When asked about Kuypers’ concerns about the divisive nature of both proclamations, he rejected that controversy alone makes a proclamation inappropriate.
“Reasonable people can and do disagree on public issues,” he wrote. “The fact that a proclamation generates differing opinions does not necessarily mean it lacks value.”
While acknowledging disagreement among both councilmembers and residents, Overholser said he views public debate as part of the democratic process.
“My goal is not to ensure unanimous agreement but to provide an opportunity for viewpoints that are important to members of our community to be recognized and heard,” he wrote.
Overholser also said he anticipated strong reactions to both proclamations before they appeared on the agenda.
“The level of public attendance and engagement demonstrated that many people cared deeply about the topics being discussed,” he wrote. “While the intensity of some reactions may have exceeded expectations, it was clear beforehand that these subjects would attract significant public interest.”
Addressing the arrest that interrupted the proclamation reading, Overholser praised police officers and city staff for maintaining order throughout the meeting.
“The city council chambers are a forum for public participation, but they must also remain a place where city business can be conducted safely and orderly,” he wrote. “While I always prefer that disagreements be expressed respectfully and within established meeting procedures, maintaining order is necessary to ensure that all participants can exercise their rights and that the council can fulfill its responsibilities.”
When asked about the connection between the proclamations and city government, Overholser said local residents are often affected by issues debated at the state and national levels and that proclamations can serve as a way to acknowledge topics community members consider significant.
“City governments routinely recognize matters that residents view as significant to their lives, values and communities,” he wrote. “As elected officials, we hear from constituents on a wide range of topics, and proclamations can serve as one means of acknowledging those concerns.”
Overholser also said local governments should be cautious when addressing issues beyond their direct jurisdiction, but argued that proclamations are ceremonial tools that should be evaluated individually based on their relevance to the community and consistency with city procedures.
When asked why he denied LGBTQ-related requests, Overholser said he evaluated them under the same framework and exercised his judgment based on what he believed was appropriate for official city recognition.
“I recognize that reasonable individuals may disagree with those decisions,” he wrote.
Overholser said he hopes residents view the proclamation process as one part of civic engagement rather than an endorsement requiring universal agreement.
“I hope residents understand that my role as mayor includes making discretionary decisions regarding ceremonial matters and ensuring that a variety of community perspectives can be recognized through the proclamation process,” he wrote. “Whether residents agree or disagree with a particular proclamation, I encourage respectful civic engagement, participation in local government, and continued dialogue about issues affecting our community.”
Council debate over prayer follows proclamation controversy
Later in the meeting, councilmembers turned to another divisive topic: whether Battle Ground should formally allow invocations before council meetings.
The discussion stemmed from recent debates over prayer at council meetings and followed a previous National Day of Prayer proclamation read by Overholser on May 18. Critics, including Jessica Cole of Evoke Cascadia, which hosts the annual Battle Ground Pride event, have argued city leaders are applying inconsistent standards by allowing some religious expressions while rejecting LGBTQ-related proclamations. Supporters during a previous city public comment period contend prayer has historical roots in government proceedings and remains constitutionally protected.
Ferrer introduced information from the Municipal Research and Services Center outlining legal standards for legislative prayer, including requirements that invocation opportunities remain open to all faith traditions and participation remain voluntary.
City Attorney Kenneth Harper told councilmembers legislative prayer is constitutional if structured properly and offered to draft a policy for future consideration.
“The city council would need to be prepared to accept very different types of invocations,” he added. “It’s also important … that the moment of invocation be non-coercive.”
McCoy cautioned that allowing invocations could expose the city to additional legal expenses and create practical challenges.
“When you take something as personal as prayer, and you put no guard rails on it, just be prepared,” McCoy said. “… We have yet as a council to talk about (an) aquatic center. We have yet as a council to talk about sports fields. We are over-budget already on legal. We’re halfway through our legislative agenda and this is the most important thing in front of us,” he said.
According to city staff, Battle Ground has spent $80,000 of its $130,000 legal budget this cycle.
Kuypers echoed concerns about staff time, police costs and legal spending.
“I’d be interested in seeing how much we’ve spent over the last month, two months, in additional staff time, overtime, police time and what that impact is going to be on our budget,” Kuypers said.
Kuypers added that she would not support invocation.
“In light of what we’ve heard on both sides, in light of trying to walk that line of separation of (church and) state, even though I’m very faith-based and I want to support that, and I want to be able to do that myself, I am representing 23,000 people here in the city,” she said.
Kuypers instead suggested exploring a moment of silence that residents of different faiths and beliefs could participate in equally.
Bowman, speaking remotely, argued against formal invocations, describing himself as deeply religious and having once spent two years on a mission funded out of his own pocket.
“I choose to keep those things that are sacred to me and my relationship with my Lord and Savior,” he said. “I don’t need to get up in front of people and pray and push that part of it. Prayer is good, but prayer is also personal. And so I think we’re stepping into something we shouldn’t be stepping into.”
Deputy Mayor Aimee Vaile argued that legislative prayer has a longstanding historical precedent, including its use by the Continental Congress, and suggested that the nation’s founders would likely support the practice.
The council ultimately voted 4-3 to direct staff to return with a future ordinance establishing an invocation process. Bowman, McCoy and Kuypers voted against the motion.
