LANSING, Mich.- Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement following the shooting of former President Trump, urging all Americans to do their part to turn down the heat of political discourse in our country.
“The shooting of former President Trump was a disgusting act of violence that caps off an alarming, years-long trend in our politics. There have been incidents we all know: a shooting at a practice for the Congressional baseball game, the plot to kidnap and kill me, the storming of the Capitol, and an in-home assault on the former Speaker of the House’s husband.” Whitmer said. “Behind all these incidents is rhetoric. We have seen calls to hate, harm, or jail political opponents. Violent conspiracies from the seediest corners of the internet have become incorporated into stump speeches. We have lost the plot when it comes to the way we talk to each other and about each other.”
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) released the following statement Sunday morning after closely following the shooting at former President Trump’s rally Saturday.
“Today our nation is once again confronting political violence – and once again that violence has claimed an American life. Every citizen should mourn this loss, hope for the swift recovery of those injured, and condemn this hateful act.” Slotkin said. “Patriotic Americans solve their differences at the ballot box, not with violence and gunfire. And the way to defend American democracy is with hard work and vigorous advocacy.”
“No matter your age, you have been impacted by this trend. This vitriol has infiltrated our lives. It’s broken relationships and marriages; friendships and families. Almost everyone can think of someone they don’t talk to anymore because of politics. I’ve met with Michiganders across the state who are living these consequences every day. There’s just a deep-rooted sense of anger and distrust.” Whitmer said “I’m also thinking of our kids. First-time voters in this year’s election were born in 2006. Think of what they have seen. Imagine what they must think about our politics. Is it a hopeful, inspiring arena where you can argue passionately for what you believe in? No. For much of their lives, politics has been dark, defined by worsening rhetoric and violence. It is no surprise that they remain cynical or pessimistic about the future. We need their passion and energy to move us forward, but we risk extinguishing it with our words and actions.”
“We should all be thankful for the quick action of law enforcement, who ensured the former president was safe and the attacker was quickly dealt with. But the death and injuries in an act of political violence are a new stain on our nation. There is a lot we still don’t know. But what we do know is disturbing and goes beyond what happened last night: America’s political climate is toxic. It’s become a zero-sum contest using the language of war to describe people who have different political views. Violent threats targeting elected officials, civil servants, election administrators and members of the media are rampant and routine, and our democracy is at risk because of it.” Slotkin said. “This reality is completely antithetical to how our Founders designed our system, one rooted in the idea that rigorous debate of ideas makes our country stronger. If you care to protect our democracy, we all must commit to the peaceful resolution of our differences and to calling out words and actions that threaten violence.”
“We know that even at its best, American politics is contentious. We are a proud, opinionated people with strong feelings about our respective visions for the country. It is one of our greatest strengths. But we must remember that while we stand on different sides of the aisle, we all want the same things. Our kids go to the same schools. We shop at the same stores. We live in the same towns and cities. If you love your country, you love your countrymen and women. That’s the deal.” Whitmer said. “We should heed the words of President Lincoln who reminded us that, “We are not enemies, but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.” He was right. We can argue but we must center our common humanity. We must. We cannot forget the values that make us strong. We are a shining beacon of democracy and freedom in the world because we settle our stark differences at the ballot box. That’s what we do.”
“I am a fundamentally optimistic, hopeful person. I remain that way because I know, in my core, that we are a nation of good, kind people. We got ourselves here, and we can get ourselves out. It begins and ends with us. We all have a role to play. We all choose whether to jump into an argument and make it personal, bitter, or extreme. We choose how we treat those we disagree with whether it’s on Facebook or in-person. We choose the news we consume—content that riles us up, fed to us by an algorithm designed to keep us scrolling. We choose these things.” Whitmer said. “Instead, let’s choose to move forward, together. Let’s chart a better path for our politics. If you see unproductive words designed to tear us apart, call them out, no matter who they come from. Hold each other accountable, even in our own party. Let’s show our kids that the nation they will inherit is one worthy of their love. Call a relative you haven’t spoken to in a while and let them know you love them. Put the phone down and talk to your neighbors. Because this starts and ends with us—all of us.”
