MEDIA ADVISORY: Unchained At Last holding a rally in Olympia on 1/18 to protest child marriage
What: The advocacy group Unchained at Last will be holding a Chaining-in event in support of Rep. Stonier’s HB 1455 to end child marriage in Washington.
When: Thursday, January 18 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: North Steps of the Washington State Capitol (416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98504)
Why: Between 2000 and 2021 more than 5,000 minors were married in Washington State because there are no laws on the books preventing child marriage.
As long as a parent or guardian gives permission, children can get married to a spouse of any age, but because of legal loopholes, they can’t seek legal recourse to end a marriage until they turn 18.
This loophole can entrap young girls who are married to an adult with an age difference that would be considered a sex crime.
“Child marriages do not last and shouldn’t exist,” said Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver), who drafted HB 1455. “If there are problems in the marriage, they can’t file for divorce because they’re not legally an adult. They can’t seek a protection order, either.”
Rep. Stonier introduced HB 1455 during the 2023 legislative session. It passed the House with a vote of 95-0, but it stalled in the Senate. This year, the legislature passed the bill on the first day of the 2024 legislative session with a vote of 98-0.
Senators Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) and Derek Stanford (D-Bothell) will join Rep. Stonier and others to speak at Thursday’s event in Olympia.