This is an article from the June 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 3) and was written by one of our students, Ruthvi T. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own, click here.
Today, civic service is in danger. While legislators are performing their duty for the goodness of our nation, many are being targeted for their political positions and actions. This is an injustice to the United States, and politically motivated threats must be subdued.
Just this month, on June 14, Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were targeted and fatally shot. On the same day, Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot and injured by a gunman. These shootings took place on the same day as the “No Kings” Protests, which brought together thousands of people for national demonstrations against the actions of President Donald Trump.
A day of love and peaceful protests was disrupted by the disgusting actions of a shooter. The far right ideologies of the shooter Vance Leuther Boelter inspired his intended plans to kill over 70 Democratic politicians. In the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman published a letter, and stated, “Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John’s career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn’t like what you stand for.” People like J. Hoffman, who have served at the forefront of our nation, are understanding the risks of the roles they possess. Experiencing something as devastating as an assination attempt, has made it so much more real for our politicians.
While shootings are some of the most extreme targeted actions, many more incidents have occurred in the recent past, wounding the leadership of our country, as well as diminishing the confidence of our constituents. For example, California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference related to immigration. Padilla was simply asking a question; he identified himself, as well as stated his intention to be there, but he was forced to the ground and put in handcuffs.
Republican leaders have expressed that Padilla only wanted attention, while Democratic leaders have condemned the Trump administration for ultimately pushing Padilla out of the press conference. Moreover the Los Angeles Times wrote, “If it’s a right not to be recorded piling on a senator trying to exercise his rights, then it should be repealed. The Trump administration did another stupid thing. Padilla came out a hero.” Local news has taken strong stances on the incident, following the release of video footage of Padilla being detained.
The current state of immigration in the United States was discussed at the media event, and with Padilla’s progressive stance on the issue, it was easy for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to expel him from the room. Padilla was targeted because of his party affiliation, but no person should be targeted for speaking up. The precedent set by this incident extends a real danger to all the lawmakers in the minority party, as well as ordinary citizens.
The shootings in Minnesota and the incident involving Senator Padilla were very recent, but similar events occurred in April 2025; there was an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence. Pennsylvania resident and Wright’s Ferry Museum director, James Abbott, has a unique perspective on the assault on the Governor’s Mansion. Abott has a background in history, as well as curation.
“This is an act that is not only political, perceived and interpreted as a terrorist action, but it’s also an assault on history in general,” Abott said. “Although the governor’s residence is not truly a historic building, its architectural style is intended to emulate 18th century Georgian architecture in colonial Pennsylvania. To make such an assault on a building that is the face of history and the face of government, is a disrespect to history. The governor’s residence has taken pride over the last 20 years of making sure there are inclusive exhibitions on the main floor, representative of a multifaceted, multicultural citizenry. To a degree, this attack could be perceived as an attack against history.”
Shapiro and his family were sleeping upstairs, while millions of dollars of damage was done to his home. While the arsonist’s motive was not published, this seemed to be a targeted attack on Shapiro’s house, establishing a dire threat to American leaders at all levels.
“The part of the political travesty that we’re experiencing right now is that we are breaking ourselves apart. We are destroying our shared history in the process of revolting against a political ideology, a politician or a feeling, as if we are more principled or more correct in where we want to lead the country or where we want the country to go,” Abbott said.
Politicians in the U.S .are not safe. Violence is on the rise. The United States Capitol Police has investigated over 9000 threats and concerning statements against members of Congress. With the polarizing divide between Republicans and Democrats, as well as a lack of bipartisan trust, it is safe to assume that the number of threats towards American leaders will continue to rise. Moreover, the media has played a huge role in inciting violence, for it can promote dangerous ideologies and create forums for brutality. Many social media platforms open up pathways for comments that are violent, and when these comments are interacted with, there can be a real risk for those who are being targeted. The media has also facilitated the discovery of the personal information of politicians, which can be useful to dangerous individuals.
Specifically, in Pennsylvania, about one billion dollars was spent on political ads prior to the November presidential election. This was about a twelfth of ad spending for the entire U.S. Moreover, according to a Pennsylvania resident and fundraiser within higher education, Sara Wallace, many of the ads were gruesome and affected her young kids negatively, potentially fueling political violence as a whole.
“These ads were intentionally polarizing. They were meant to make people angry and afraid, and the volume at which they run, especially on television, is relentless,” Wallace said. “One of the biggest concerns for me with this trend toward political violence is that it will deter good candidates from running for office, out of concern for their physical safety, which is truly tragic.”
So the question is, why should anyone still want to be a politician? When there is such a risk of political violence and a danger to the lives of lawmakers and their families, it seems like it is not worth the risk to run or serve in office. But, the work that politicians do, when fair and responsible, is the reason that our country can run and the reason why our democracy is protected. When politicians do their fair share, so must their constituents. The people should respect politicians, be responsible on the media and speak up when they know something is wrong.
It is not normal for the homes of politicians to be set on fire. It is not fair that representatives and their families are being murdered for standing up for their political beliefs. Let’s create normalcy once again by standing up for the leaders of our country 一 the way they stand up for us.
