STATEMENT: Neera Tanden Condemns the Political Violence in Minnesota

Washington, D.C. — Earlier today, Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in what Gov. Tim Walz characterized as a “politically motivated assassination.” Nearby, there was a separate shooting targeting Minnesota State Sen. John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who are currently hospitalized. In response Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

While there is a lot we still don’t know about the motives behind the assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, or the attacks on Minnesota State Sen. John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, it’s clear Donald Trump has created a political climate that stokes violence. It is no coincidence that these shootings come less than 48 hours after a United States senator was aggressively forced to the ground and shackled or days after Marines landed in an American city—Marines who are war fighters. This is a dangerous time for our country.

I send my deepest condolences to the Hortman family and send my hopes for recovery to the Hoffman family. It’s now more necessary than ever to continue to peacefully fight for American democracy in their honor. And people of good will of all political stripes must work to stop the authoritarian actions of this administration.

For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].