Once again, a horrific act of political violence brings attention to the rising cost of inciting distrust and anger in society. The full picture of what motivated a man from Minnesota accused of impersonating a police officer in the middle of the night at multiple elected lawmakers’ homes that ended in the murder of the state Speaker of the House and critically wounding another is still unfolding. Reports also indicate the accused was potentially targeting additional lawmakers, their families, and community leaders in the state.[1] Last weekend’s attack is a disturbing reminder facing any citizen who dares to have diverse opinions, ideas, or beliefs in the public sphere. 

While it appears the individual in Minnesota acted alone, the use of violence to intimidate and silence others—including elected citizens to represent the people in a democratic society—is not isolated. From the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington D.C. earlier this year to an attack on the home of Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro, two assassination attempts on then Presidential candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 election, the attempted murder of Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their California home, and the attack on the United States Capitol Building by supporters of Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, are just a few the growing examples of high-profile cases involving political violence in our society.[2] These unmistakable trends threaten to undermine our social order and community life.

It’s important not to make quick assumptions about the motives or the presumed ideologies that inspired these acts of violence. What drives someone to extremist behaviors isn’t always black and white, but rather colored by long-held beliefs, life conditions, reinforced narratives regardless of factual evidence, and personal traumas. However, what can be judged and condemned without hesitation is the evil and injustice of the acts committed. Any act of hate, discrimination, and violence against another member of our universal human family threatens the fundamental rights and dignity of everyone. Upholding the freedoms and self-determination of others is an act of preserving ourselves. This is how a diverse and inclusive society thrives over dominance and oppression.

From national and global politics to local community issues, we are in the midst of a struggle to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of technology, information, economies, mass migration of people, impacts of climate change, growing income inequality, war, and the decline of social equity. Any one of these sociopolitical issues is enough to create significant disruption and anxiety. Understanding and managing all of them is a task no single individual or ideological party is capable of undertaking on their own. We live in a new world where large populations are impacted by decisions in places they have never visited and people they have never met. Thankfully, we are adaptable beings with a stunning ability to grow our awareness, compassion, and behaviors to build a better tomorrow.

Humanity is a cooperative species by nature. We’re created to live, function, and thrive within communities. Over many millennia, we’ve evolved from tribes to globalized cities. Working together to live, thrive, and innovate for the well-being of others is coded within us, despite countless moments when our ancestors chose evil against their fellow humanity. 

The beginning of civility and collaboration is hope—in each other, our communities, social institutions, and the courage to make the world a better place for everyone. The foundation of this hope is seeing that goodness and beauty are abundant in all of us, and believing that light will always outshine the darkness. These may be unsettling times, but hope is not lost. By standing in solidarity and choosing the way of love, including among those we disagree with, we can be sure a better tomorrow is coming.

[1] https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-8ce70a94c9eb90688baaa1a71faef6cc

[2] https://www.perplexity.ai/page/political-violence-in-america-Kzr5whegS.Krqi4URmp4jQ