To the editor:

With summer ending, folks are focused on their kids returning to school or planning end of season activities. Fewer people are paying attention to the statewide primary elections, fewer still are following the critical race for the next R.I. Attorney General. However, this elected position has never been more important to Rhode Islanders, and we couldn’t be more certain that Jason Knight is best prepared to serve as our next Attorney General.

We’ve worked with Jason for years in his capacity as State Representative serving parts of Barrington and Warren. We know that Jason’s entire professional career reflects his unwavering commitment to public service, to helping others. Both his dad and grandfather served in the military, and Jason joined the navy at age 18 as a nuclear power operator on a submarine. He served for almost eight years before going on to earn his law degree.

After law school, Jason worked as a prosecutor and Special Assistant Attorney General in the RI Attorney General’s office before opening his own criminal defense practice. With over 20 years of courtroom experience, Jason understands how our criminal justice system impacts people. As Attorney General, Jason will be uniquely situated to implement the types of criminal justice reforms needed to make the system work better for everyone.

Jason was elected State Representative in 2016 and named Deputy Majority Leader in 2021. He’s been a leading gun safety lawmaker, helping pass the Assault Weapon Ban after years of legislative advocacy. In 2019, Jason was instrumental in getting Rhode Island to protect abortion rights before the repeal of Roe v. Wade and he’s continued to stand for reproductive justice. He fought for us in the legislative hearing rooms and stood with us on the steps of the Statehouse. We know that as a progressive Attorney General, Jason will fight to defend reproductive freedom, to protect Rhode Islanders from gun violence and online predators, and to make our communities safer.

Jason has opposed authoritarianism since he was first elected on the same night as Trump in 2016, and as Attorney General he’ll continue to pursue strong legal action against Trump’s authoritarian attacks on Rhode Island. When ICE activity erupted in Warren, Jason acted quickly, drafting laws protecting our immigrant neighbors, banning ICE from our courts and polling places and allowing us to sue in state court if federal agents violate our constitutional rights. Importantly, Jason remains the only candidate to commit in no uncertain terms never to collaborate with ICE under any circumstances.

As our next R.I. Attorney General, Jason will work tirelessly to protect us from criminals on the street corners, in the boardrooms and in the White House. We know this because he’s been fighting on our behalf for decades while serving in the military, in the courts and in the legislature. Jason Knight is uniquely qualified and prepared to serve as our next Attorney General and we are proud to support his candidacy.

Sharon and Warren Wollschlager
Bristol