Dear John,

I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened in Utah — about how this adds to the long list of escalating political violence that includes Charlottesville, the Tree of Life Synagogue, the January 6th Capitol attack, the attack on Paul Pelosi, the murder of Rep Melissa Hortman, not to mention the recent attack on Gov Shapiro’s residence.  

Let me be clear: I abhor violence. All of it. But political violence? That cuts even deeper. Because when our differences lead to death, we’ve lost something foundational — our shared belief that this democracy belongs to all of us, and that we can resolve our conflicts not with violence, but with words.

The real tragedy is that we’re losing the ability to even have civil discourse. That should terrify all of us — no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.

This has to be a moment where we find our way back. Back to decency. Back to dialogue. Back to believing in the possibility of a future where we don’t have to agree on everything to recognize each other’s humanity.

The needs of our nation haven’t changed — only the tenor of the debate has.

Folks are still fighting for a living wage. Kids are still afraid to go to school because of gun violence. Families are still seeking dignity at our borders. Working people are still struggling to make ends meet in an economy that seems rigged against them.

These challenges are real. They are urgent. And they won’t be solved by hateful rhetoric or bloodshed.

We can choose a different path — a path of unity, of justice, of hard work and radical hope.

Let’s take this moment to reflect. Then let’s roll up our collective sleeves and get back to the business of building a country that’s big enough, bold enough, and brave enough for all of us.

In solidarity,

Malcolm