1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about Vice President JD Vance's recent statements on Charlie Kirk's podcast, which threaten the foundations of our democracy and free speech. Just five days after Kirk's tragic death, Vance called for a government-led effort to investigate and dismantle left-wing organizations, baselessly claiming they encourage violence. This rhetoric is not only divisive but potentially dangerous. The Vice President's words carry immense weight, and using a heinous killing to frame political opponents as accomplices to murder is a grave abuse of his position. This type of inflammatory language only serves to escalate tensions and could incite further violence. It's particularly troubling that Vance brought on Stephen Miller as a guest to discuss strategies against supposed left-wing violence, despite the fact that the gunman's motives are still under investigation. We must remember that political violence is not confined to one ideology. Recent history has shown attacks on both Republican and Democratic politicians, as well as the January 6 Capitol riot. By focusing solely on left-wing organizations, Vance is ignoring the broader issue of political extremism and potentially creating a dangerous precedent for government overreach. I urge you to publicly condemn Vice President Vance's statements and call for a more measured, fact-based approach to addressing political violence. We need leaders who will unite us, not divide us further. Please work to protect the rights of all Americans to engage in peaceful political discourse without fear of government retaliation. Our democracy depends on your commitment to upholding these fundamental principles.