Friend, my heart is with Charlie Kirk's family after he was killed at an event on a college campus yesterday.

In this dark moment, I want to be very clear: Political violence of any kind is unacceptable – from the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, to the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette just a few weeks ago, and now to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, we cannot deny it: Political violence is surging.

This is not the direction we want for our country. This year alone has shown that our political leaders, organizers, children, and communities are in serious danger from rampant political violence. America is built on the right to speak freely and the right to celebrate our political differences. No matter where you land on the political spectrum, we’re Americans at the end of the day.

If we do not come together and collectively lower the temperature, the current path we're on will take our country to an even darker place.

Every American should be able to exercise their right to participate in our political system without fear of violence. Our democracy depends on it. I will do everything in my power to protect that right – and our democracy along with it. That is my promise to you, now and always.

Haley Stevens