Democrat Condemns Home Vandalism and Urges Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza Conflict
Democratic Rep Adam Smith denounces political intimidation and violence after his Washington state home is vandalized by activists advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
During an interview on "NewsNight" with CNN's Abby Phillip, Democratic Rep. Adam Smith spoke out against intimidation and violence promoted by political extremes, following an incident where his Washington state home was vandalized by activists advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. "Sadly, the extremes on both the left and the right have increasingly turned to intimidation and, in some cases, violence to promote their beliefs," Smith stated.
Smith reported that his wife discovered graffiti at their home in Bellevue, Washington, and they promptly informed local and Capitol police about the incident. He expressed his concerns about the incident, as well as other acts of intimidation, as being "very troubling."
This incident occurred at a time when members of Congress and the Biden administration are under increasing pressure to publicly advocate for a ceasefire in the conflict. President Joe Biden has faced criticism from within his party for his refusal to do so. While the administration has endorsed "humanitarian pauses" and worked to extend the recent truce in the fighting, Smith also voiced his support for humanitarian pauses in the conflict.
Bellevue Police Department's public information officer Seth Tyler informed CNN on Friday that the garage door of Smith's home had been spray painted overnight, but declined to disclose the content of the graffiti. Smith told Phillip that as of Friday evening, authorities had no leads on who was responsible.
The congressman highlighted the incident as part of a concerning trend of threats against elected officials. "We must show respect for civil society and representative democracy, and learn to disagree without resorting to intimidation," Smith stated.
When asked by Phillip if he agrees with certain protesters' beliefs that their tactics are receiving more attention than the issues they are protesting, Smith adamantly stated, "they're completely wrong." He went on to express his belief that the tactics being used are highly destructive, comparing them to the extreme tactics displayed during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
In a press release on Friday, Smith stated that throughout his career, he has consistently engaged with various political groups, including Pro-Palestinian and left-wing activists. He expressed his willingness to continue meeting with these groups to discuss their differences and find common ground in a constructive and peaceful manner.
