Emotions flowed as speakers let their powerful words ring out against hate Monday morning in a packed Fisher Pavilion auditorium at Seattle Center.
Several hundred people banded together to declare the state of Washington a Hate Free Zone, a slogan that was emblazoned on signs posted on walls and firmly held in the hands of attendees.
“It’s good to be alive. We’re all brothers and sisters in life and in faith,” said Rev. Dr. Carey G. Anderson during the opening prayer.
Gov. Jay Inslee was one of the many speakers who took to the podium during the hour-long event, which featured speeches from other elected officials, community leaders, labor leaders and faith leaders.
“Right now, it is important to speak and be on our hind legs, speaking loudly, because I know people feel sometimes a little sense of powerlessness today,” Inslee said. “Well, I’m here to tell you this: The electoral college has not taken away our right and ability to speak against hate in the state of Washington.”
Congresswoman-elect Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) led the event and noted that it mirrors what happened 15 years ago when elected officials, community leaders and residents denounced the rise of hate crimes following the 9/11 attacks. Now, she said, they join in the fight against injustice and policies rooted in racism and condemn hateful rhetoric, hate crimes and hate threats.
“Together we say we respect women, we value Muslims, we value black lives, we stand with our LGBT community members and with immigrants, refugees and people of all faiths,” she said. “We value those with disabilities, we stand together to protect workers and we will fight for dreamers of all kinds — immigrant and native born.”
Jayapal noted that Saturday’s second vandalization of the sign at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS) in Redmond is a reminder that much work still needs to be done through a coalition that was passed in Seattle in 2003 to defend and protect immigrant rights.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1, which includes Redmond) added: “I’m deeply saddened that members of our community in Redmond are experiencing fear and intimidation at their place of worship. We must reject these actions in no uncertain terms and stand united against hate.”
Aneelah Afzali, executive director of MAPS-AMEN (American Muslim Empowerment Network), noted that American Muslims make invaluable contributions to this country, including the 50,000 who are doctors, the 10,000 who serve in the nation’s defense forces and much more.
“When hate speech and conspiracy theories against an American minority go unchallenged, they lead to hate crimes,” she said. “It’s in this context that the sign at our mosque was viciously attacked twice in the last month. But even if individuals destroy a sign, they cannot destroy the love and tremendous community support upholding that sign, or our resolve to continue contributing positively to our greater community.”
Afzali, a Harvard Law-educated attorney and American Muslim, asked attendees to publicly speak about the lives and contributions of their American Muslim friends and to stand for shared American values of religious freedom and diversity.
“Please, use your incredible power and stand with us to affirm that love is greater than hate,” she said.
• Lynne Dodson, secretary treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, also delivered a moving speech.
“Union members know the meaning of solidarity. We know how to organize, and we know how to fight. We will not tolerate violence against our community members. We will not stand by while others are targets of hateful individual actions, or hateful public policies. If there is a registry, we will all be Muslim; if there is a wall, we will build a picket line around it; and if they come to break up our families and remove people from their homes or work, we will stand in the way. We will fight hate and divisiveness with love and solidarity. And we will not be moved,” she said.
• King County Executive Dow Constantine attempted to speak, but a group of protesters verbally interrupted him by shouting the slogans on their signs, including “Hate Free Means No New Jail” and “Defund Hate No New Youth Jail.” One man darted to the front of the crowd and voiced those concerns as well. Constantine walked off stage and met with the protesters outside; he tried to speak later, but was drowned out again by the protesters’ chants.
• Jayapal and her fellow elected leaders released a formal statement declaring Washington a hate-free state. All members of Washington’s Democratic Congressional delegation signed the statement, including Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Congressman Rick Larsen and Congressman Denny Heck, along with other elected and community leaders.
