Elected officials from both major political parties in Oregon have come together to condemn political violence in the wake of a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, where the presumptive 2024 Republican Presidential nominee was slightly wounded by gunfire.
During the rally, as captured by live coverage and video footage, Trump was addressing the crowd when he suddenly grabbed his right ear and dropped behind the podium. Secret Service agents swiftly intervened, pulling Trump to safety. Blood was visible on the right side of his face and hand as he held a fist in the air while being escorted off the stage. The would-be assassin, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was fatally shot by the Secret Service. Authorities discovered explosives in Crooks’ van, parked near the rally, and at his residence, which has slowed down the investigation into his motive.
No immediate motive has been identified for the attempted assassination. Media reports revealed that Crooks, a registered Republican, had made a $15 donation to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic-aligned political action committee, in January 2021. In a televised statement on Saturday, President Joe Biden expressed his condemnation, stating, “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick.”
The Republican National Committee convention, where Trump is set to be nominated and announce his vice-presidential running mate, is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 15.
Oregon’s elected officials wasted no time in denouncing the attempted assassination. Regardless of party affiliation, they emphasized the importance of peaceful political discourse and unity in the face of such violence. Bipartisan condemnation of political violence serves as a reminder that differences in opinion should be resolved through dialogue and democratic processes, rather than resorting to acts of aggression.
Leaders from both sides of the aisle in Oregon expressed their solidarity in rejecting violence as a means of political expression. They highlighted the need for respectful and constructive engagement, promoting a society where differing opinions can be heard and understood without resorting to hatred or violence. The unity displayed by Oregon’s elected officials sends a strong message that political violence has no place in our democracy.