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"Our community has no place for violence and vandalism.
Last week, someone intentionally set fire to materials placed against a mural on the Stonewall Youth building in downtown Olympia. The fire damaged the mural and the building. Thankfully, no one was injured.
I want to be clear about something that should not be complicated: People in Olympia have the right to express themselves. They have the right to create art, share their beliefs and advocate for causes they care about. Others have the right to disagree with those messages.
What none of us has the right to do is silence someone else's expression through vandalism, intimidation or violence.
This particular mural expresses support for the Palestinian people and is located on a building that serves LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Community members involved with the mural report that it has been vandalized repeatedly since it was created last year. I understand why this latest incident, and that history, have left people feeling angry, targeted and unsafe.
The Olympia Police Department is investigating the fire as arson and is examining whether hate or ideology was a motivation. That investigation is ongoing.
Public safety is fundamental to a healthy community. Whether we are talking about violence against another person, threats, arson or destruction of property, criminal behavior that puts people at risk has no place in Olympia. When serious incidents occur, they understandably get our attention and can affect how safe people feel. We take those concerns seriously.
Olympia is a community where people hold deeply different beliefs about issues locally, nationally and around the world. That is not something government should try to erase. A healthy community makes room for disagreement, protest, art and advocacy. It does not make room for threats or destruction as a response to speech we don't like.
To our Palestinian and LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and particularly the young people who use Stonewall Youth, I want you to know that you are part of this community and your safety matters to us.
And to everyone in Olympia, I ask that we continue to make this a city where disagreement does not become dehumanization and where differences do not become an excuse to harm one another.
If you have information that could assist the investigation, please contact the Olympia Police Department at 360-753-8300.
We may not always agree with one another. We should be able to agree that everyone deserves to live, speak and gather safely in our community."
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