Read a PDF of our statement here.
Minnesota State Representative, and former Speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed this weekend in their homes by a gunman who presented himself as a law enforcement official. Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot in their home, leaving them in critical condition, and have since undergone surgery.
The shootings took place just north of Minneapolis. They are being investigated as targeted acts of political violence.
In response, LDF President and Director Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement:
“Political hate and violence have been given unprecedented platform and permission in a climate of increased political polarization, hateful and divisive rhetoric in political forums, and disrespect of opponents’ and their constituents as evidenced by events as recent as this past week where a sitting U.S. Senator was forcibly removed and handcuffed while conducting official business, and a U.S. Representative was told to “shut up” by a colleague in a congressional hearing. It cannot go on.
“Violence, as well as hate-filled, inciteful rhetoric, have absolutely no place in political discourse, civil society, or any part of our democracy.
“LDF wholeheartedly condemns these horrific acts. We stand with the victims of these heinous crimes and extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Representative Hortman and her husband.”
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957 — although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
