My name is Mayra Guizar and I’m a Chicana and a first generation college student at Western Washington University. I’m also a constituent of Washington state's 15th district, where my parents raised my two younger brothers and I. I attended K-12 in Sunnyside and graduated in the class of 2011 from Sunnyside High School, where both of my brothers will also graduate from.

I'm reaching out because of the racism that was brought forward by Washington's 15th District State Senator, who also happens to "represent" us in Washington made during a committee hearing last week on Thursday. The comment was made when he didn't quite understand the importance/relevance in SB 5752 (http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5752-S.pdf), in creating legislation that will mandate lawmakers to provide a "racial-impact statement" if asked whenever they propose legislation on how they will impact historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities.

This is what Sen. Honeyford had to say about it:

"It's generally accepted that the poor are more likely to commit crimes,and generally, I think, accepted that people of color are more likely poor than not. So how does that factor into your equation?"

He then decided to stick to what he said by later adding:

"I said the poor are more likely to commit crimes, and, uh, colored most likely to be poor. I didn't say anything else other that. And I believe that's an accepted fact, and if you check any of your sociology books or anything else, you'll find that's an accepted fact of our society."

(To read the article, visit: http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/03/washington_state_senator_colored_people_more_likely_to_commit_crimes.html, and to watch the video where he says all of this, go to: http://tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2015020240.The discussions on the Senate Bill begins at 33:47, and the comments made by Senator Honeyford start at 50:10)

Yesterday, he was then interviewed by KIMA where he attempted to correct what he first said when he called PoC "colored people" by saying "the negro and hispanic". Using these terms is blatant racism which is steeped in a long history of white supremacy in this country, and it is hurtful to communities of color.
Here's that article: http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Senator-doesnt-apologize-for-offensive-remarks--294930921.html?mobile=y

When I heard about this, I was furious. With current events that are happening across the country, including the murder of Pasco's Antonio Zamora, it's very common for folks who are in positions of power to criminalize Black and Brown bodies, and poverty, and this is exactly what he did. He made a racist, classist generalization about our communities, and the fact that he has been representing a predominantly Latino community since 1995 is shameful.

I then called to set up a meeting with Honeyford this week, but his legislative assistant said he's "too busy" and to "call back next week", even after I asked for a quick floor pull. My family and I have lived in Sunnyside for years now, and we pay tax dollars for him to sit in that office. That office isn't his, it's the office of the people from the 15th district. It's our office.

Here is the plan:
If he's "too busy" to meet for a few minutes with me to explain and publicly apologize on behalf of what I said, I will sit outside his office in Olympia until I get to talk to him and I'm inviting you all to join me. I understand a lot of us have other commitments and are students, which is why I want folks to write letters, and to attach it to your signature on this petition in the "I'm signing this because" box. Letter writing is a powerful tool that is used to make sure voices are being heard by people who have the power to make decisions that will impact our communities.

Also, if you are not from the 15th district, please feel free to still write a letter! He is still representing Washington state and the more signatures, the more letters, the better. And please add where you are from! Whether you're a constituent of the Washington's 15th District, or someone from out of state. I believe it's important to highlight that racism transcends district and state lines, and we should collectively take action to make sure our voices are being heard, constituent or not.

The letter is about telling your story and then ending the letter demanding a public apology to the communities he has targeted and offended, but most importantly we want Senator Mark Schoesler, of Washington's 9th district and Senate majority leader, to denounce the racist remarks that have been made by Senator Honeyford. I personally will be including all of the above, plus an ask for Senator Honeyford's resignation.

Also, if you know anyone else who is down to show up to Olympia or sign this petition, please forward this to them, and send anybody with questions to me. If you would like me to hand deliver the letter, let me know! and have all letters complete and emailed to me by Thursday evening at 5 PM and emailed to mguizar10@gmail.com so I can print them out before heading to Olympia.

Thank you all! Much love.

In Struggle and Solidarity,
Mayra Guizar