Proponents of Washington Splitting and Seceding Meet in Moses Lake

Proponents of a plan to split Washington into two states held a meeting in Moses Lake that organizers called an attempt to clear up misconceptions about the movement.

Republican State Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane Valley has proposed creating a new state called Liberty out of eastern Washington. Shea has been under heavy political fire on a number of fronts for a number of reasons and he was not in attendance at the Moses Lake meeting.

In the proposed new state, all religions would be welcome, Native American treaty rights would be respected and residents would have unfettered gun and property rights.

No major announcements were made at the Wednesday meeting, where a prepared statement was read and a number of questions were fielded from reporters.