Michigan authorities react to shooting at Trump rally

LANSING, Michigan – Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement following the shooting of former President Trump calling on all Americans to do their part to contain the heat of political discourse in our country.

“The shooting of former President Trump was a heinous act of violence that capped an alarming, years-long trend in our politics. There were incidents we all know about: a shooting at a congressional baseball game practice, the plot to kidnap and kill me, the storming of the Capitol, and an attack at the home of the former Speaker of the House’s husband,” Whitmer said. “Behind all of these incidents is rhetoric. We’ve seen calls to hate, harm, or imprison political opponents. Violent conspiracies from the seediest corners of the internet have trickled into campaign speeches. We’ve lost the plot when it comes to how we talk to 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 on Saturday.

“Today, our nation once again faces political violence – and once again that violence has claimed an American life. Every citizen should mourn this loss, hope for a speedy recovery for those injured, and condemn this hateful act,” Slotkin said. “Patriotic Americans resolve their differences at the ballot box, not with violence and guns. And American democracy can only be defended through hard work and vigorous commitment.”

“No matter what age you are, you’ve been affected by this trend. This vitriol has permeated our lives. It’s destroyed relationships and marriages, friendships and families. Almost everyone can think of someone they no longer speak to because of politics. I’ve met with Michiganders across the state who experience these consequences every day. There’s just a deep-rooted sense of anger and distrust.” Whitmer said, “I’m thinking of our children too. The first-time voters in this year’s election were born in 2006. Think of what they saw. Imagine what they must think about our politics. Is it a hopeful, inspiring arena where you can passionately advocate for what you believe in? No. For most of their lives, politics has been bleak, marked by increasing rhetoric and violence. It’s no surprise that they continue to be cynical or pessimistic about the future. We need their passion and energy to move us forward, but we risk snuffing it out with our words and actions.”

“We should all be grateful for the swift action of law enforcement that ensured the former president was safe and the attacker was quickly brought to justice. But death and injury resulting from an act of political violence is a new stain on our nation. There is still much we don’t know. But what we do know is disturbing and goes beyond what happened last night: America’s political climate is toxic. It has become a zero-sum game, using the language of war to describe people with different political views. Violent threats against elected officials, civil servants, election administrators and members of the media are widespread and commonplace, and our democracy is at risk as a result,” Slotkin said. “This reality is completely at odds with the way our founders designed our system, which is based on the idea that a thorough debate of ideas makes our country stronger. If you care about protecting our democracy, we must all commit to resolving our differences peacefully and denouncing words and actions that threaten violence.”

“We know that American politics is contentious even at its best. We are a proud, opinionated people with strong feelings about our respective visions for the country. That is one of our greatest strengths. But we must remember that even though we stand on opposite sides of the aisle, we all want the same things. Our children go to the same schools. We shop in the same stores. We live in the same cities. If you love your country, you love your countrymen. That’s the way it is,” Whitmer said. “We should heed the words of President Lincoln, who reminded us, ‘We are not enemies, but friends. Though passion has strained us, it must not break our bonds of affection.’ He was right. We can argue, but we must focus on our common humanity. We must. We must not 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. And I remain that way because I know deep down that we are a nation of good, kind people. We got here and we can get out. It starts 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 on Facebook or in person. We choose what news we consume – content that upsets us, fed to us by an algorithm that has evolved to keep us scrolling. We choose these things,” Whitmer said. “Instead, let’s look forward together. Let’s chart a better path for our politics. When you see unproductive words designed to divide us, call them out, no matter who they come from. Hold each other accountable, including in our own party. Let us show our children that the nation they will inherit is worthy of their love. Call a relative you haven’t spoken to in a long time and let them know you love them. Put down the phone and talk to your neighbors. Because this all begins and ends with us – all of us.”