In recent years, the United States has seen a concerning rise in politically motivated violence. It's putting our safety at risk and shaking the foundations of our democracy. This violence can be tied to inflammatory, violent language used by some political figures. It's time to speak up and insist on stopping this dangerous trend.

The recent attack on former President Donald Trump's life is a powerful reminder of how dangerous violent language can be. President Joe Biden, speaking from the Oval Office, emphasized how this kind of talk ignites violence, “We’ve traveled it before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer. Whether it’s members of Congress in both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Or intimidation on election officials. Or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor. Or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. There’s no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence, ever. Period. No exceptions. We can’t allow this violence to be normalized.”

The normalization of threats and violence in political discourse has created an environment where extremist actions are not only possible but increasingly probable. Most recently, a GOP gubernatorial candidate in NC called for “killing[s].” Prominent political figures bear significant responsibility for the current climate. They cannot continue their violent rhetoric.

The increasing prevalence of political violence is a threat to our democracy and all of our safety. We must demand accountability from our elected leaders and political campaigners with national platforms. It is imperative that we denounce violence unequivocally and commit to fostering a climate of respectful discourse.

Sign the petition: Stop the violent rhetoric that is leading to political violence