Republicans Planning Pro-DeVos Demonstration Friday In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, WA - "Be Un-Republican," the subject line of the email reads. And by that, state GOP Chairman Susan Hutchison means Republicans are being called to do something they don't usually do: protest.

"We Republicans don’t protest march, shout down free speech or riot like the Democrats do. But tomorrow we need to be COUNTER PROTESTORS," Hutchison wrote in an email sent to supporters Thursday afternoon.

Left-leaning groups are planning to protest Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' Friday appearance in Bellevue at the Washington Policy Center's annual dinner. Hutchison wants a big pro-DeVos GOP counter-protest to greet them.

"Union-funded protestors [sic] will be out in force tomorrow night to stop attendees at the Washington Policy Center dinner from hearing Betsy DeVos, a champion of charter schools and school choice," Hutchison's appeal reads. "We must counter-protest in favor of our urban minority students who excel when given quality educations in charter schools. The hypocritical left fights school choice on behalf of the WEA, against our kids."

The email goes on to ask anyone attending to bring "appropriate pro-school choice signs." The protest begins at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Bellevue Library. DeVos is scheduled to speak at the dinner inside the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

Bellevue police are planning for possibly large protests Friday. Bellevue Way between Northeast 8th Street to Northeast 10th Street will be closed between 4 and 8:30 p.m.

Image via David Eggert/Associated Press