OLYMPIA — Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), House and Senate legislators, and community advocates will hold a press conference on Friday, Feb. 13 to discuss legislation and funding aimed at reducing gender-based violence and supporting survivors in Washington. 

“There is a worldwide reckoning happening around human trafficking and gender-based violence, and people are demanding we hold the perpetrators of these horrible crimes accountable,” Dhingra said. “While the other Washington refuses to hold abusers responsible, including those whose disturbing crimes are detailed in the Epstein files, we have a long history in this Washington of protecting survivors and delivering justice.  

“Despite our state’s challenging budget situation, it is important now more than ever that we support survivors. When we say we believe them, it means we must provide the services and support they need to feel seen and heard.” 

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13 

WHERE: Room 140, Irving R. Newhouse Building in Olympia 

Speakers include: 

  • Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), Senate Law & Justice Committee chair 
  • Kate Garvey, CEO of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center  
  • La Tanya Horace Dubois, Executive Director of The Silent Task Force
  • Yasmeen Waheed, Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist with The Silent Task Force and Founder of Survivors Inspire Solutions
  • Colleen McIngalls, Executive Director of the Children’s Justice Center of King County 
  • Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), Chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
  • Rep. Jamila Taylor (D-Federal Way), Chair of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee 
  • Rep. Chris Stearns (D-Auburn), Speaker Pro Tempore 
  • Sen. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines), Health & Long-Term Care Committee vice chair 

Legislation under consideration this session includes:  

  • House Bill 1591: Providing remedies for defendant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking (Taylor) 
  • Senate Bill 5936: Concerning prevention of and remedies for human trafficking (Orwall) 

Watch the press conference here.  

 

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