Governor Gregoire honored at the Hate-Free Zone award ceremony

May 2, 2008

*As Written*

Thank you Pramila.

I very much appreciate the honor I�m receiving tonight.

The 10,000 kilowatt award! I just hope those kilowatts are generated by Washington wind power!

I deeply admire and respect the Hate-Free Zone Campaign � and Pramila�s fearless, tireless work on behalf of immigrants. So this award means a lot to me.

But in the glow of the moment, I also want to assure everybody that my work to help our vibrant and growing population of immigrants become naturalized citizens is far from done.

Our recent establishment of the New American�s Policy Council is a big step, and by the way, we�re close to its formation.

Now, I will be looking to the council for real guidance on how we can better help legal permanent residents become naturalized citizens.

For example, I will be looking for better ways to help immigrants learn English, which is integral to becoming a citizen, and also what we can do to better recognize and transfer skills, certifications immigrants bring with them to this country.

In a broader sense, I want this council to model and kindle public-private partnerships to integrate immigrants into the fabric of Washington.

We can lead by example, but Government alone cannot make this happen. As the Hate-Free Zone Campaign and Pramila have already shown us so beautifully, it begins with individuals and communities. So we will work as partners � the Washington Way.

As we all know, the soul and soil of Washington is made so much richer with the arrival of Latinos from the south�Asians from across the Pacific�Sikhs, Arabs, Ukrainians, Indians, and Somalians from across the Atlantic�and many, many other peoples from all over the globe.

I�m a lifelong Washingtonian, and I can say for a fact that Washingtonians are good-hearted people. They understand the beauty and value of diversity.

But we cannot forget that even in Washington, ignorance and fear can swiftly become hatred that hurts Washingtonians. We learned that after September 11, and we�ve seen it since too often.

The way to combat ignorance and fear is by teaching Washingtonians that immigrants are just like us � and they are here to have what we all want � a safe, good place to work and raise families.

The State of Washington will lead by example � now and always.

I want everybody to know, the front-porch lamp of the State of Washington will always be lit for our immigrants.

Thank You