Regarding the recent attack on Rev. Walden: A Statement from the 37th LD Democrats Executive Board

Photo credit: Seattle Times

On Thursday, November 18, Reverend Harriett Walden was assaulted on the street in downtown Seattle.

Reverend Walden, a legendary social justice icon, was walking in an intersection when she was confronted by a young white man in a vehicle. He began edging his car toward her, yelling racial slurs, before finally throwing a can of motor oil at her, hitting her in the back.

The Seattle Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

The 37th LD Democrats condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms. We deplore the vile offenses of anyone who would defile our city with racism and bigotry. We stand in alliance with Reverend Walden, her family, and all hate crime victims.

The cancer of anti-Blackness, alive across generations, continue to plague our community at this moment in history. 

Forces of hatred must be confronted by all of us, individually and collectively. We must deny racism not only with our words, but through our actions. We must create safe spaces for members of our Black community. We must support movements for Black liberation and forge alliances with those who work to dismantle structural racism in our society.

We call for a full investigation into the assault on Reverend Walden, with the findings reported to the community in a timely fashion.

We will not tolerate inequality or injustice anywhere, especially King County, WA. The forces of hatred will not win.