King County Unions Condemn Threats to Rep. Jayapal and Reaffirm Our Right to Nonviolent Protest

October 2, 2025

Last week, Arizona State Representative John Gillette made a chilling statement calling for Washington State Representative Pramila Jayapal and others who advocate for nonviolent resistance training to be “tried, convicted, and hanged.”

Jayapal, who has been elected to Congress five times, has become a leading advocate for nonviolent resistance in response to repeated attacks on democracy and increasing instances of political violence. Nonviolent resistance training teaches how to challenge injustice through peaceful action. Examples include strikes, sit-ins, boycotts, or other forms of protest, while maintaining discipline, safety, and moral clarity.

MLK Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow issued the following statement on threats against Representative Pramila Jayapal and others participating in nonviolent resistance:

“Working people in King County are outraged by the violent rhetoric against our very own Rep. Pramila Jayapal and the attempt to criminalize nonviolent collective action, a fundamental part of our right to free speech.

Rep. Jayapal’s remarks referenced the labor movement’s tradition of coordinated, peaceful resistance to improve the lives of working Americans. She said, “We want to help you seed, participate, and coordinate these nonviolent resistance actions… If we were in the labor movement… we might call this getting strike ready.” Peaceful protest is not a threat to democracy — it’s democracy in action.

Rep. Gillette’s outrageous response is part of a broader campaign to intimidate workers, organizers, and anyone who dares challenge entrenched power. This comes from the same playbook that corporations use to break union organizing and dismantle the rights of working people.

Rep. Jayapal is a proven champion for working people and our rights to organize unions and fight for better working conditions. King County’s Labor Movement will not be bullied, silenced, or intimidated by threats coming from out-of-state politicians like John Gillette.”