WASHINGTON—On Saturday, at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, a lone gunman fired a series of shots injuring former President Trump, killing one rally attendee and critically injuring two others. The FBI is investigating this as an assassination attempt.  

Statement of Common Cause President & CEO Virginia Kase Solomón 

“What should have been a peaceful event on Saturday turned into a violent assault on democracy that resulted in a senseless murder. We are thankful that former President Trump is safe and our hearts are with the victims and their families. Sadly, this is the current state of political life in America, and it must stop.

Democracy and freedom cannot thrive when election workers fear for their safety for carrying out a public service, when voters do not feel safe attending political events in their own communities, and when candidates for public office are physically attacked for their political views.

Political violence is never and will never be acceptable under any circumstance.

As we enter the heat of a national campaign for president, we call on all political leaders to elevate our civil discourse and guide us in a national conversation founded on basic respect, not partisan rhetoric.

This is an inflection point in our nation’s history. It’s time we focus less on the left and the right and more on right from wrong. It’s up to each and every one of us to reject political violence in all its forms and Common Cause will do all we can to ensure a peaceful  political process.” 

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