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THE GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER

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September 11, 2025

A Message from Governor Polis
To my fellow Coloradans:


Yesterday was a violent day in Colorado and America. On the eve of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, here in Colorado at Evergreen High School and for our neighbors in Utah at Utah Valley University, horrific attacks targeted the core of who we are and what we believe as Americans.


As a parent, I cannot imagine what families and kids in Evergreen are going through. Marlon and I spoke with our children last night, and it was sadly a conversation we’ve had too many times. Like many of you, we hugged them a little closer and reflected.


Our schools and colleges should be a place of learning, growth, debate, and free speech, not crime scenes. Protecting all of Colorado’s kids is and has been my north star as your governor. The state of Colorado is supporting Evergreen and Jefferson County through this gut-wrenching time with resources to help students and school staff access the resources they need.


Protecting all of Colorado’s kids and creating access to opportunity is and has been my north star as your governor. We have taken action in recent years to improve school safety, prevent violence, and improve youth mental health, and we know we need to do even more.


Because the reality is that it really doesn’t matter if a student has enough books in their classroom if kids aren’t safe at school. And if parents fear for their child’s safety every single day.


I am also saddened and sickened by the level of targeted and political violence wracking our state and nation. From the targeted attacks on dedicated lawmakers and their families in Minnesota to the anti-semitic attack on a peaceful march in Boulder earlier this year, these attacks are unacceptable. This is a challenging time for so many in our country, but any divisions we face will never be solved by trying to hurt each other, and political differences cannot be resolved through violence. Political violence is never acceptable, and I condemn the brutal and inexcusable attack on Charlie Kirk in Utah as he was engaged in political speech in a public square at a college, just as I condemned the horrible attacks on Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband John,
and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette and the break in and attack on Paul Pelosi. Charlie Kirk was due to speak here in Colorado today at Colorado State University, in the same area I’ve had so many discussions with students over the years, and I’ve heard from several Coloradans that he was scheduled to meet with.


Many of us are asking, How did we get to this point as a country? When my friend Gabby Giffords was the victim of an attempted assassination, sadly a new chapter of political violence in America was ripped open that continues to this day. It shook me then, and I am shaken again today. I am heartbroken by the violence across the nation, and in particular, the senseless attack right in our own backyard, at Evergreen High School.


Enough is enough.


It’s heart-wrenching that we continue to come back to the same place, time and time again. This is not normal, and we should never treat it as such. This violence is a wound eating at the soul of our nation, and could mark a deterioration of the very core of who we are as Americans. We simply must do better. The polarization, the heated rhetoric, all lead to a demonization of people that ultimately ends in violence. Political opponents are just that – people with opposing views on issues that matter. But they are not enemies. They are our fellow countrywomen and men. They have families and lives, and in large measure, the hopes and dreams of those on the left match with those on the right.


Let me be clear: it is not normal in America for death or violence to be a side effect of disagreement. We must reject this. Justifying the death of another human being for what they said or believed is a poison that erodes the foundations of our free society and will spread if we let it.


I also know people’s feelings about the intensely polarized moment we are living in are complex, and I very much understand and respect that. But we will all lose if we continue allowing hateful rhetoric to turn into violence. I promise you, it won’t get us where we need to go. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”


And in Jewish tradition, it is customary to tear a piece of one’s clothes after the death of a loved one to mark a physical representation of the brokenness one feels in mourning. Today, the fabric of our nation is torn and we mourn.


In this moment, we need leadership, we need leaders – not just politicians, but faith leaders, teachers, communities and businesses – to step up to bring people together, not sow seeds for more hatred. Let's end the division. Let’s Unite the Country. We need to fight hate with love.


Our shared efforts to build a safe Colorado for All where we can engage with one another peacefully and respectfully, is more important than ever. As a state, we have navigated challenges before and will continue to do so, as we pray for the recovery of the two injured Evergreen High School students.


Today is a day to reflect, mourn, to mobilize for each other, to look in the mirror and know that every single one of us has value, and a responsibility to do better for each other, for our children.


PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS


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Keeping the Broncos in Denver, Colorado (September 10)

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Taking Swift Action to Ensure Easy Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Coloradans (September 8)

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Celebrating the State Fair & Update on Special Session (August 28)

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Fire Safety and Awareness and Update (August 15)

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Celebrating Colorado Day (August 1)

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Announcing Education Roadmap (July 29)












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