Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement after Minnesota state legislators Representative Melissa Hortman, Senator John A. Huffman, and their spouses were shot in their homes in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination. 

“The murder of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman, a former state House speaker, and her husband Mark and the shooting of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife is heartbreaking and terrifying.  My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the people of Minnesota as they are sheltering in place and grappling with the assassinations of these beloved community members and leaders.

“Political violence is never acceptable.  It has no place in a democratic society, where engagement and debate are essential to its functioning.  At this moment, however, some are sowing division, increasing inflammatory rhetoric, and normalizing threats of violence.  We cannot allow political disagreement to turn into physical danger—for elected officials or for citizens anywhere.  All Americans need to know that their participation in our democratic society is important and is safe.  No American should fear attending civic events, making their voices heard, voting in elections, or running for office.  All of us—especially elected officials—have a responsibility to tone down the rhetoric that vilifies and divides our fellow Americans.”