Inslee addresses Washingtonians following day of violence in both the state and nation’s capital

Rioters broke in to the U.S. Capitol and breached the gates of the governor’s Executive Residence Wednesday in protest of the Electoral College certification

“Good evening.

“First, I just want to say that Trudi and I are at the residence tonight and we’re doing just fine. Thank you to all those who expressed concern, but we are doing quite well. Thank you.

“Today has been a very tumultuous day for Americans and Washingtonians, for obvious reasons.

“On a day in our nation’s capital, where we were to effectuate the most important act of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of power — was forcefully interrupted by those who refuse to accept verdicts of the people, the courts and the truth itself.

“Here in our capital on a day that was to be dedicated to preparing for the opening day of our legislative session, so that we could address our challenges, including the pandemic, that work was forcefully interrupted by similar acts of attempted intimidation.

“But I have good news to share with my fellow Washingtonians.

“Those acts of intimidation will not succeed in any way shape or form. We will continue the work we are doing to protect the health of Washingtonians. In D.C., Congress will follow the will of the American people and take yet another step on the long march to protecting people’s right to self-government that has so far succeeded through centuries of frequent tension in our politics.

“I know we are going through a moment of great turmoil. Passions are high, in part because we have suffered serial and constant untruths being told to citizens from the highest office of the land. I am confident we will overcome this, as we have in the past, and we will restore the ability to perpetuate self-governance.

“I am confident that our work here in the state’s capital will be similarly productive beginning next week when the legislators, Republicans and Democrats, meet to try to fashion joint resolutions to our challenges.

“I revile these acts of sedition and intimidation that we have seen in our country today. I call on all elected leaders to condemn this. I especially encourage the Republican Party to do some soul searching. It’s time to stop pandering to falsehoods. This is about more than one failed presidency: Everyone has a role to play in getting disinformation out of our civic discourse. Together, that spirit will lead to successful efforts here in our state’s capital and in our nation’s capital.

“I would like to thank our brave members of the State Patrol for what they had to deal with today and for their role in protecting democracy. I’ve also been made aware that journalists were threatened with violence on the Capitol campus today, and I want to thank them for their persistence in covering today’s events and giving people the objective truth of what has happened.

“I want to express a personal sentiment that I felt today, and I think that many feel, and that is a sense of outrage and frankly anger at the sight of people seizing the citadel of democracy, showing oafish behavior in the chamber of the U.S. Senate, where so many Republican and Democratic leaders have participated in great debates. Today was no debate of ideas, it was juvenile and dangerous intimidation.

“I know that we have to find a way to work together to the benefit of all our citizens, Republicans and Democrats alike. And I think it would do us well to harken back to what President Abraham Lincoln said during another time of national tension.

“He said this: ‘Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.’

“In this day of great assaults on democracy, let us all seek that higher plane which calls us to seek common ground even in the face of outrageous conduct. This is a most difficult task, but we are all called to it tonight.

“Be well. We’re going to get through this. Thank you, and goodnight.”

Watch the address here.