The Leadership Conference Statement on Recent Political Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McNeil, [email protected]
WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement:
“We unequivocally condemn the violence against former President Trump and his supporters that took place this weekend, and our hearts are with the family of Corey Comperatore. Violence should have no place in our political process. Each of us, no matter our ZIP code or political party, deserves to be able to live our lives safely and to peacefully participate in our democracy.
“In the aftermath of this weekend, which was a devastating reminder that gun violence and politically motivated violence are all too prevalent in our country, we are once again seeing harmful conspiracy theories and disinformation spread from voices across the political spectrum. This includes the former president himself calling the January 6th attack on the nation’s Capitol a ‘hoax.’
“The overheated political environment demands that every political leader reject calls for political violence in all its forms and act decisively in the coming months to protect every American’s right to vote and to have that vote counted. Meanwhile, social media companies must stop dangerous falsehoods from flourishing online and spilling into our streets. We have seen repeatedly — and recently — that when these lies are allowed to spread unchecked, more violence ensues.
“By coming together to recognize our common humanity across our differences, we can move toward a future that — despite the brutality we witness all too often — remains well within our grasp and is one in which every voice is heard, every right is protected, and every individual is free to live without fear of discrimination or oppression.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
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