WA GOP Remains Silent on Trump’s Lies
WA GOP Spreads Conspiracy Theories But Are Silent On Trump’s Actions, Eyman’s Comments, or Any Policy Solutions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 9, 2020
SEATTLE — At a time of justified anger over the murder of Black people by police officers, Washington Republicans are following the lead of Donald Trump, spreading misinformation and spewing divisive and insulting messages.
Trump, after previously attacking peaceful protestors to clear a path for a photo op, said George Floyd — who was murdered — would be happy about the economy, and tweeted gross attacks against George Floyd, decided this morning he would falsely claim the 75-year-old man assaulted by police in Buffalo faked his fall and could be an “ANTIFA rioter.”
Two of the leading Republican candidates for governor, con artist Tim Eyman and former City Counselor Joshua Freed, continue following Trump’s example by making alarming statements in recent weeks.
Eyman, on a sparsely viewed Facebook live event, compared the murder of George Floyd to Governor Inslee’s nationally praised measures to keep Washingtonians safe during the coronavirus pandemic. This senseless and disgraceful comparison insults the memory of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all protesters around the world speaking out against police brutality. Eyman refuses to apologize and has previously held events with signs comparing Governor Inslee to Hitler. Even right-wing radio hosts were willing to challenge Eyman on his reprehensible comments.
Freed, in his response to Floyd’s murder declared, “All lives matter.” Freed is clearly unable to comprehend why so many are currently protesting in the streets or empathize with the communities mourning the losses of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black people killed by those sworn to serve and protect them.
The Washington GOP isn’t even pretending anymore. Their actions make it clear that they don’t care about addressing racial injustice in policing. Instead, they encourage conspiracy theories and spew hateful attacks as they grasp for relevance.
If Washington Republicans can’t condemn Eyman and Trump’s recent comments, what can they even stand for?
“While Washington Republicans have been playing partisan politics and resorting to decades-old racist fearmongering rhetoric around ‘law & order’, Democrats across Washington have engaged with protesters to listen to their demands for change and started taking action,” said Tina Podlodowski, Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party. “Washington Democrats will continue to press forward for reform and enact policies to start reversing centuries of injustice against people of color, despite Washington Republicans’ attempts to distract and divide our country during this time when we need national healing.”
