In a healthy society, politicians wouldn’t be targeted with violence. No one would. Anyone who openly advocates violence — against protesters, political rivals, his own vice president, a legislature and more — would be ineligible for public office.

A party that condemns violence against their candidate and supporters would condemn violence generally — and renounce their own documented words and policies of harm and violence. The party whose July 13 event was attacked also continuously, publicly target, in every way, women, children, immigrants, the disabled, the elderly, the middle and working classes, unions, politicians, educators, students, journalists, librarians, doctors, scientists, public health advocates, abortion providers, LGBTQ communities, religious minorities, nonwhite communities and more.

I’m appalled by what happened in my hometown, Butler, on July 13. I’m appalled by a crowd cheering promised violence of mass deportation, of overthrowing a coming election and more, and a person and party with open histories of encouraging violence. The violence committed at this event is appalling, too, also deserving condemnation.

Healthy societies must reject injury, death and attempted assassination. It’s profoundly disturbing that the same crowd who witnessed and suffered such violence, and condemn it, seemingly support other equally horrible harm and violence, and their advocates.

Melanie Love

Oakdale

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