It has now been more than a year since the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. That day should have been a national wake-up call. Yet instead of pulling us back from the brink, political violence has only accelerated.
Since then, President Trump faced another attempt on his life in West Palm Beach, Florida. In Minnesota, a targeted attack stole the lives of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, while leaving State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, seriously injured. Last week, Charlie Kirk, one of the most pivotal voices of the modern conservative movement, was assassinated doing what he loved: engaging America’s youth in meaningful conversations about the future of our country.
Each of these tragedies is unique, but together they paint a devastating picture. Political violence is targeting the heart of our democracy. Public officials, community leaders, and even families are being attacked simply for who they are and what they believe. This should shake every American to their core.
Dangerous rhetoric leads to excusing, even celebrating violence
I had the privilege of meeting Charlie Kirk on multiple occasions, including when he spoke at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown and during his appearances at Trump rallies here in Wisconsin. His passion for empowering young Americans was unmistakable. His murder is not only an unspeakable loss for his wife Erika and their two young children, but a loss for an entire movement and for our country.
The murders in Minnesota remind us that elected officials and their families bear the same risks. When elected officials and their family members are attacked in their homes, it is not just a crime against individuals — it is an attack on the democratic process itself. As I said when this tragic crime took place, I stand with the people of Minnesota and all those grieving this horrific loss.
A common thread in these acts is reckless, dehumanizing political language that gets amplified by the media and other institutions, creating a loop that allows people to think that those with different views are evil rather than simply wrong. This dangerous rhetoric leads to some excusing or even celebrating violence against their political opponents. We saw this with some media outlets blatantly misrepresenting Kirk’s words and marginalizing his assassination. This cannot continue.
We should resolve differences by debates, casting ballots
America is better than this. We should resolve our differences with debate and by casting our votes at the ballot box —we don’t assassinate our political opponents because we don’t agree with their opinions.
Now more than ever, we must defend free speech as it is the lifeblood of our republic. Disagreement is healthy. But when rhetoric devolves into dehumanization, it paves the way for violence.
Republicans and Democrats alike should be united in rejecting political violence. Every assassin and every would-be assassin must be brought to justice and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I will continue to stand firmly with law enforcement and support efforts to keep our communities and political leaders safe.
The choice before us now is simple: either we recommit ourselves to free speech and civil disagreement, or we allow violence to erode the foundations of our republic. The past year has shown us what is at stake if we fail.
Scott Fitzgerald represents Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rep. Scott Fitzgerald: Charlie Kirk’s assassination should shake us to the core | Opinion
Reporting by Scott Fitzgerald / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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