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Violence—and reckless rhetoric—only breeds more violence. At a moment when the nation needs calm, too many of our leaders are failing to cool the temperature. They are not leading – just listen to Nancy Mace of South Carolina who claims that “Democrats own this” killing.
As a human rights lawyer, I was part of the team that hunted down and brought to justice the man who tortured and murdered Victor Jara—a Chilean folk singer and dissident under the Pinochet dictatorship. He was killed for his political beliefs. We didn’t answer violence with vengeance. We fought back with courts, due process, and truth.
Political violence is uniquely dangerous. And so is the behavior of politicians who, instead of standing against it, pour more fuel on the fire for their own gain.
What we need right now is leadership grounded in justice and unity—not leaders who use tragedy to settle scores or wield power against their opponents.
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