John Washington III Says Threats Are Not the Answer — the Answer Is a Government That Answers to the People

John Washington III drew a hard line between dissent and violence on Saturday, responding to the case of a Michigan man charged with allegedly threatening to kill FBI Director Kash Patel. Writing to his followers, John Washington III said every American has the right to challenge their government, criticize elected officials and speak out against corruption — but, he wrote, "there is a big difference between standing up for your rights and threatening someone's life."

"I do not support threats, violence, or intimidation against anyone, whether they're an ordinary citizen, a police officer, an FBI director, or the president of the United States," John Washington III wrote. He added that nobody should be above the law, "and that includes the people enforcing it."

The candidate argued that cases like this one should turn attention to a larger question. "When citizens become frustrated with their government, we should be asking why," he wrote. "Why are so many Americans losing trust in the very institutions that were created to serve and protect them?" Government, he wrote, is supposed to work for the people, not the other way around, and he said he does not support a government that expects respect without accountability.

"The answer is not to threaten the government. The answer is to make the government answer to the people," John Washington III wrote, calling for freedom of speech, due process and transparency to be protected without resorting to violence. "The American people deserve a government they can trust, not one they fear or feel powerless against."