House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) issued the statement below regarding the recent vandalism at the home of UW President Ana Mari Cauce:
“We are disturbed by the news that significant damage was done to University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce’s residence and car by masked perpetrators who also painted pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian symbols on both. This is an unacceptable form of protest.
“In the past our caucuses have vehemently opposed any legislation that would punish a person’s constitutional right to protest, including one idea that would have potentially criminalized any protest.
“We want to be absolutely clear: as Americans, we all have the right to protest. But these actions crossed the line into threatening and criminal vandalism. Our state will not tolerate attacks on Washington residents or their property.”
