John,
This week, our country reflected on two national tragedies: the September 11 attacks of 2001 and the assassination of Charlie Kirk that shocked the nation on Wednesday.
The attacks of 9/11 marked an inflection point for America, ushering in a period, however brief, of unity and shared purpose. Many of us recall members of both parties standing shoulder to shoulder on the Capitol steps singing God Bless America.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is another hinge point in our history, but we do not yet know which way we will turn — whether toward renewed unity, or deeper and darker division. It is up to all Americans to answer that question.
It is particularly incumbent upon our nation's leaders to view this as a wakeup call. Our political climate has gone from disrespectful to dangerous, and it is time to make a change. From last year’s attempt on the life of President Trump to this summer’s murder of a Democratic state legislator in Minnesota, politicized violence is on the rise. If tragedies like this become a new norm, we may very well lose our country. The stakes are that high.
Following the tragedy, many have rightly focused on condemning political violence. But this is also a story about speech and discourse. Charlie Kirk built his career on seeking dialogue and debate with those he disagreed with. Those interactions were sometimes confrontational but never called for violence. Yet he was killed for them.
We can all agree that we need more open dialogue and debate in America, where our people and leaders are more siloed than ever. The situation is especially dire online, where many are taught to fear and hate those of opposing views rather than to understand or listen.
We at No Labels are reflecting deeply on this tragedy and how we can play a role in healing our nation. Our work to build trust between leaders in both parties seems more important than ever, and it was on display during yesterday’s public bicameral meeting.
There, Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), close friends, led the group in reflecting on the tragedy in Utah and discussing how they can move the nation down a more constructive and civil path. View a clip from the bicameral meeting here:
View their comments, and the thoughts of other members in attendance, HERE.
We choose to put our faith in the leaders who showed up yesterday. Leaders like Josh, Markwayne, and many others in our coalition are modeling the decency and humanity our politics desperately needs. Other leaders have risen to the occasion too, with Senator Bernie Sanders making a particularly powerful statement about how political violence threatens the free speech and open debate that are the very essence of our democracy.
Watch Senator Sanders’ remarks HERE.
At a time when so many feel isolated and afraid, it has never been more important to reach out to our family, our friends, and our communities. We invite you to join the No Labels community for a special call this Sunday at 5:15 PM ET about our current moment, with civil rights icon and No Labels leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, and former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. The two friends — one a Democrat, the other a Republican — will share their thoughts about where our country must go from here.
