Sources: Delaware’s Elected Leaders and Sen. Schumer Office
(UPDATED Sunday, June 15th): Leader Schumer Remarks Following The Politically Motivated, Targeted, And Deadly Shootings Of Elected Officials In Minnesota
New York, N.Y. – On Sunday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about the politically motivated, targeted, and deadly shootings of elected officials in Minnesota, and precautions that will be taken to bolster security for all elected officials. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
Leader Schumer: It’s a sad and somber Father’s Day because we’re all shaken by the horrifying shootings—murders—that occurred in Minnesota. God, when I heard it, it was like a gut punch to the stomach.
My deep thoughts… I think of those beautiful pictures of the two people who died and those who were injured. My thoughts go to their families and all who have been traumatized by this senseless act. Just a few minutes ago, I spoke to Senator Klobuchar. Earlier, I spoke with Senator Smith. They’re in shock. These people were their friends. They were with them at a dinner that ended like at 11 p.m., and the lives were taken of these two beautiful people, and the other two were injured shortly after the dinner broke up. It was the big Democratic dinner. So my colleagues are heartbroken. Minnesota’s heartbroken. I’m heartbroken. This is just too damn much.
In light of this attack, I’ve asked the Capitol Police—just as I did earlier in the week for Senator Padilla—to immediately increase the security for our senators. And I want to thank the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Capitol Police for responding quickly to protect our senators, just as they went quickly to protect Senator Padilla after he was so viciously, nastily, inappropriately treated. They’re doing it for these senators as well. Now yesterday, I also asked the Sergeant-at-Arms and our Republican colleagues— yesterday I asked the Sergeant-at-arms and my Senate colleagues that we convene a bipartisan classified briefing on security when we return to the Senate. I’m happy to say today that we will have that briefing as soon as we return—a bipartisan, classified briefing on security for both Senate members and, let’s go – for the whole country. We have to reevaluate how we are protecting members of Congress and staffs in the face of rising threats. But we also have to look at protecting all American people as that happens. We must also get to the bottom of why this happens. There’s a lot of speculation about the motivations of the shooter. It’s premature to say what they are until law enforcement has much more information.
But this, make no mistake about it—this is more than a regional tragedy. It’s part of a troubling pattern, a wave of political violence that threatens the very foundation of this Republic. Let me be clear: violence has no place—no place—in our politics. No matter your ideology, your party, your philosophy, attacks like this undermine democracy, endanger us all, and make us all feel less safe. That’s not a good thing. Bad things happen when people aren’t feeling safe. So I urge everyone to reject political violence in all forms. But condemning violence is not enough. We have to stop it.
Look, we’re not enemies. We may have different views, but we’re all Americans. We may disagree on policy, but we must never disagree on the value of human life. To my colleagues in Congress—now is the time to speak out with moral clarity. Silence enables violence. That’s why I’m speaking out this morning. Violence is just so against the American way. To law enforcement and federal agencies: we must ensure that they have the tools to support, to track, to prevent threats before they turn into tragedy. And I will continue to work very hard for that. Here’s the bottom line: we must ensure that every citizen feels safe to speak—to serve, to live, without fear.
——————-
DOVER – Today (Saturday, June 14th), Delaware’s elected leaders released a joint statement on the political violence in Minnesota:
“We are all horrified by the shooting of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman, and their spouses in what appears to have been a despicable and politically motivated attack. We are all praying today for the victims of these attacks, for all of Minnesota, and for our democracy.
“Political violence has no place in America. It is not just a threat to the public servants who are targeted—it is an attack on free speech itself and an act of intimidation against the public. Each of us—irrespective of good faith differences in party, ideology, or policy—stands unequivocally for nonviolence, for free speech, and for the unalienable rights of those with whom we disagree.
“Our nation has spent 249 years building a community of peace, of law, and of freedom; we all must stand together to defend that inheritance.”
Sen. Chris Coons
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester
Rep. Sarah McBride
Gov. Matt Meyer
Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay
Attorney General Kathy Jennings
State Treasurer Colleen Davis
State Auditor Lydia York
Commissioner Trinidad Navarro
President Pro Tempore David Sokola
Sen. Majority Leader Bryan Townsend
Sen. Majority Whip Elizabeth Lockman
Sen. Minority Leader Gerald Hocker
Sen. Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn
House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown
House Maj. Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris
House Maj. Whip Ed Osienski
House Minority Leader Tim Dukes
House Minority Whip Jeff Spiegelman
Leader Schumer Statement On The Politically Motivated, Targeted, And Deadly Shootings Of Elected Officials In Minnesota
New York, N.Y. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement on the devastating and politically motivated attacks that occurred in Minnesota. This statement follows his comments earlier this morning on the shootings.
I am continuing to closely monitor the devastating and developing situation in Minnesota.
This morning, I spoke with both Senators Klobuchar and Smith. In light of this horrifying attack, I asked Capitol Police — as I did earlier this week for Senator Padilla — to immediately increase security for both senators. I thank the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police for increasing security for all three.
I have also asked the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Leader Thune to convene a full briefing immediately when we return D.C. on member security in light of this awful incident.
As we continue to follow this terrifying situation, I urge everyone to stay safe, stay vigilant, and reject political violence in all its forms.
But condemning violence while ignoring what fuels it is not enough. We must confront the toxic forces radicalizing individuals and we must do more to protect one another, our democracy, and the values that bind us as Americans.
