An 82-year-old woman was charged Monday with a hate crime after assaulting two political supporters, according to the Edmonds Police Department.
Officers responded to a report of an assault at 1 p.m. near 100th Avenue West and Edmonds Way and found the woman engaging with community members “who were rallying in support of a conservative political figure.”
According to the EPD, the woman said the race of the two female victims and their political beliefs were the reason she approached and yelled at them.
The woman told officers “she could not understand why people of color would support this particular candidate.” The EPD said she “was very animated and even attempted to push an officer while demonstrating how she had acted.”
A 55-year-old Edmonds woman told officers the suspect first “had gotten into her face” as she rallied. The 82-year-old woman then “commented on the victim’s attire and skin color before the suspect pushed the victim and punched her in the chin.”
The EPD said another woman, a 66-year-old from Edmonds, stepped in to intervene, but the suspect punched her as well.
“The Constitution protects peaceful rallies in our community, and community members should never be met with violence while exercising those rights,” said Michelle Bennett, chief of the EPD. “Our officers properly determined that this was more than just an assault and arrested the suspect for the appropriate charge.”
Neither victim required medical treatment, the EPD said.
Officers said they had established probable cause for a hate crime arrest, and the EPD added that “the suspect continued to show no remorse for the incident and the potential to continue her behavior toward others.”
The woman was booked into the Snohomish County Jail, according to the EPD.
The incident happened a day before a tense election that resulted in Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris. There have not been reports of political violence since the Associated Press called the election early Wednesday morning.
“I’m disheartened that this violence has occurred in our community,” said Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen. “Elections are an important part of society, and freedom of expression is the foundation on which democracy is built.”
“Community members peacefully showing political support should not be subject to hateful violence,” Rosen added. “I’m thankful there were no serious injuries, and the suspect was held accountable.”