OLYMPIA – Today, Rep. Darya Farivar (D-North Seattle) issued the following statement on the growing fear and grief within Washington’s Iranian community amid escalating violence in the Middle East:
“My community is hurting. Families in Washington are watching, in anguish, as loved ones in Iran and neighboring regions face unprovoked and unlawful bombings – many of them linked to weapons manufactured here in our own state. For Iranian Washingtonians, this is not some distant policy debate it is deeply personal. It’s fear at the dinner table. It is grief without recourse. It is the heartbreak of being unable to provide safety for those who once dreamed of refuge here.”
As Washington’s U.S. Congressmembers work to respond to the unfolding crisis in Iran, Rep. Farivar has tirelessly worked in the state legislature to advance the priorities of Washingtonians at home through state policy by increasing representation of Middle Eastern communities in policymaking, and increasing legal resources against hate crimes, immigrant justice, and educational equity.
Washington’s aerospace industry’s role in global arms production has long intersected with the Legislature’s own decisions. Though the 2020 repeal of the B&O tax preference was a large step, Washington remains deeply connected to a legacy of militarism. From Hanford’s nuclear past and the legislatures work to manage radioactive and chemical remediation to today’s global exports of violence, communities across the state continue to contribute – and feel the harmful impacts of global militarization.
At a time when families are facing fear and loss, Rep. Farivar calls for Washington to meet this moment with compassion, protection, and action – not division or indifference:
“This year, I introduced HR 4635 to honor Nowruz and ensure Middle Eastern and Central Asian communities are seen and valued in our halls of power. We expanded services for immigrants through HB 2368, protected workers through SB 5104, and continued funding for legal aid and hate crime response. We also secured $200,000 in funding to support curriculum development on Islamophobia. These are not symbolic gestures – they are essential protections for our communities.”
Rep. Farivar also introduced HB 1412 last legislative session, which would create a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Commission to provide long-overdue institutional recognition and a stronger voice for MENA Washingtonians:
“As the first Iranian and Middle Eastern woman elected to the Washington State Legislature, I have experienced firsthand and heard directly from others the erasure our communities face, from the lack of disaggregated public health data in public health to exclusion from racial equity frameworks. The Commission will give MENA Washingtonians the voice and visibility we deserve, and ensure our experiences and contributions are reflected in state policy.”
In the face of rising xenophobia and international instability, Rep. Farivar’s message is clear: Iranians belong here – and our government must reflect that by standing with our communities and protecting their place in our state.
“We are not invisible. We must raise our voices against hate at home, and ensure international conflict is never used as an excuse for discrimination in our communities.”