Suspect In Racist Attack On Burien Mayor Turns Self In

BURIEN, WA - Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta said on Sunday he was "assaulted and verbally threatened" because he is Latino and because Burien is a sanctuary city for undocumented people. The assault happened Saturday night at the Olde Burien Block Party in the downtown area, according to Matta.

Matta, elected in 2017 as Burien's first Latino mayor, described the assault in a Facebook post published Sunday afternoon. King County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Abbott said Sunday the department is investigating the assault.

Around 9 p.m. Monday, a 62-year-old man turned himself in to police for the assault, according to Abbott. The man was released, but police have forwarded malicious harassment charges to the King County prosecutor.

During the attack, an "older white man" allegedly grabbed Matta by the neck and then shoved him to the ground. The attacker, Matta said, was upset about a city ordinance that bars police and other city employees from inquiring about a person's immigration status.

I was physically assaulted, and verbally threatened by a male who was upset because Burien is a Sanctuary City, and I am a latino male Mayor. I will not tolerate being threatened by anyone. You have the right to vote and voice your concerns, however when you put your hands on me. I will press charges on you, and have our legal system take care of you.

We have no room for hate or violence in our community. I don't care what color or nationality you come from. When your behavior is violent you need to be prosecuted and locked up!!!!!

America covers many nationalities, and our flag has been swaying with the wind protected by people from many backgrounds and ethnicities.

Matta was elected last November amid racial turmoil in Burien. A slate of candidates ran for City Council on an anti-immigrant platform. Those candidates were not elected. The group Respect Washington, a main backer of Burien's anti-sanctuary city candidates, was labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center after last November's election.

Jason Rittereiser, who is running in the 8th Congressional District race to replace Dave Reichert, issued a statement on Sunday about what happened to Matta.

"When we see racism or hate, we must combat it head-on at every turn," the statement read. "Too often in America, intense political strife turns into violence."

Image courtesy City of Burien