Political Violence Surges Across US After Minnesota Lawmaker Killings

Political violence in the United States has sharply increased, highlighted by the recent shootings of Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, which authorities say were politically motivated. The suspect, Vance Boelter, was charged with multiple counts including murder and attempted murder, and investigations revealed he had detailed plans and a list of over 600 Democratic lawmakers. Experts and local leaders, including Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle and Professor Timothy Kneeland, attribute the surge in violence to deep political polarization, conspiracy theories, and a breakdown in civility, urging bipartisan unity to end the violence. The shootings are part of a broader pattern of politically motivated attacks across the country, including assassination attempts on President Trump and attacks linked to extremist views that have targeted various political figures and communities. Religious leaders like Father Joe Whalen have called for peace and a rejection of hatred, emphasizing the need to break cycles of retribution and restore civility in political discourse. The rise in threats has also led to a 400% increase in politically based threat investigations by U.S. Capitol police, underscoring the growing concern about political violence as a threat to democracy.