Newhouse Calls for National Unity

Statement

Today, Rep. Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement:

"Earlier this week, I wrote in a column that "If we are truly to live together as "one nation under God,' we must do better.' In his call for unity, General Jim Mattis -- a hometown hero and native son of our District in Central Washington -- rightly notes that in order to surmount our current crisis, we must draw upon the strengths of our civil society and live up to the values enshrined in our Constitution.

As I stated in that column, our nation was founded upon the bedrock principles of free speech and the right to peacefully protest. President Trump is absolutely right that those in our poorest communities are the primary victims of the unacceptable rioting, looting, and outbreaks of violence we have witnessed in recent days. We must ensure our citizens, small businesses, and communities are kept safe. I do not believe we should utilize active-duty military to address these eruptions, but rather let local and state law enforcement officers -- in some cases with the support of the National Guard -- do their job: protecting our communities and enforcing just law and order.

While I continue to advocate for the notion of policing with our community, I am also taking it upon myself -- and I invite all Central Washingtonians and all Americans to join me -- to listen and to reflect on the fact that not everyone shares the same life experiences. We can all do more to empower our neighbors and build a more peaceful and just society.

In the Bible, Jesus preached to his followers and disciples, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' This wisdom, while seemingly simple and straightforward, is the only way we will emerge as a country, stronger and more unified than before. We must strive to create a more perfect union and, as my friend General Mattis stated, "In Union there is Strength.'"

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