 Neighbors,
Like so many of you, I’m still struggling to find the words, and be able to deal with the assassination of my friend and leader, Melissa Hortman and her dear husband Mark. My heart goes out to their children and family. The violence that took Melissa and Mark Hortman from us also targeted John, Yvette, and Hope Hoffman. I’m so relieved that Senator Hoffman and Yvette are recovering and salute their daughter Hope’s actions in calling the police and likely helping to save their lives.
Even if you never met Melissa or Mark, I can say with certainty, you’ve felt the impact of the Minnesota they helped shape.
It’s hard to fathom a path forward, but for now we need to leave space for grief. To that end, there will be a candlelight vigil tonight, open to the public, to honor the memory of Melissa and Mark, as well as to hold John, Yvette, and Hope Hoffman in our thoughts as they continue to recover and heal.
Attendees are asked to bring their own candles; however, please do not bring signs of any kind. The vigil will be held from 8-9:30 pm on the State Capitol Steps.
There will be much more to say in time. For now, I want to leave you with the words of their children, Sophie and Colin:
“If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following:
- Plant a tree.
- Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
- Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
- Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
- Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.
- Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
- Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”
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