CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement following the anti-Israel protest that blocked access to SeaTac Airport for several hours today.

“People have the right to peaceably protest, but they don’t have the right to put themselves and drivers at risk by blocking access to our busiest airport. I understand that the point is to cause a disturbance in a highly visible location, but disrupting transportation and commerce like this is illegal and does nothing to further anyone’s cause. Travelers should not have had to get out of their cars and walk the rest of the way to get to the airport to make their flights or pick up loved ones.

“I hope the governor and the attorney general condemn the protest as well. If not because it falsely accused Israel of committing genocide and fed antisemitic sentiment, then simply because it is dangerous and against the law. Republicans sponsored legislation this year to make this kind of thing illegal, but Democrats killed it. Washington deserves better.”