SEATTLE — A day before presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump’s scheduled campaign stops in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee joined U.S. Rep Adam Smith and community leaders to denounce the candidate’s rhetoric as dangerous for women and minorities.
At a Friday news conference in Seattle, Inslee said Trump does not share the values of Washington state, such as “compassion, empathy, inclusion and diversity,” and his visit to Washington prompted him to speak out against the businessman.
“We are going to reject a candidate whose fundamental message is fear and hatred,” he said
Trump has two rallies planned in the state on Saturday, but neither will be near liberal Seattle. His first stop is in Spokane at noon, followed by a 3 p.m. event in Lynden, Whatcom County, just miles from Canadian border.
Inslee is a Democrat, but some Republicans in the state have also criticized Trump, including U.S. Senate candidate Chris Vance. Vance is running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and said on Thursday he would vote for John Kasich in Washington’s presidential primary on May 24. Kasich dropped out of the presidential race Wednesday.
Estela Ortega, the executive director of El Centro De la Raza, a community center in the city’s Beacon Hill neighborhood where the Friday news conference was held, said Trump’s rhetoric is making Hispanic and Muslim children afraid to attend school for fear of backlash. The center advocates for Latinos and social justice.
“Donald Trump’s shameful bigotry, stereotyping and scapegoating, his attack on the character on millions of people is not welcome in Washington State,” she said, backed by supporters and signs that read “love trumps hate in Washington.”
Trump has proposed a ban on all Muslims from entering the U.S. and says he hopes to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico if elected.
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