WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a highly contentious election year, political rhetoric, and by extension, its consequential environment, has intensified significantly. What has been considered as an assassination attempt on former-President Donald J. Trump, on July 13, 2024, at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is a deplorable act which should never be tolerated in word or deed.
As Americans, we know that the price for our freedoms, including our freedom of speech, exercising our free will to vote, and supporting our desired political candidate(s), were paid for with valor and bloodshed by our men and women serving in the armed forces. In a society where our political differences should go no further than a dinner table debate, lunchroom discussion, or as barroom banter, we should all feel free from harm when conveying our political views in conversation.
What we discovered on July 13, 2024, was that the life-altering policies which lawmakers craft, argue, and impose—that seem to be negatively incited nightly by political pundits, of all party affiliations, on cable news—do not mean anything in compared to the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, that we, as Americans, enjoy. We must continue to enjoy these privileges by engaging in cordial, hate-free speech.
Further, we have learned that the political temperature, which has been simmering the last decade or more, has reached a boil during this current general election cycle. We, as responsible citizens, Federal employees, and protectors of the U.S. Constitution—for which we took an oath—are tasked with ensuring that we provide the example to others by what we say and how we say it.
We need to lead like never before—with actions of demonstrated peace, respectful tones, and reasonable thought. Finally, we must never allow our differences of opinion to infiltrate our coveted democracy, instead, we must permit our diversity to define this country as one that values debate over divisiveness, respect rather than rhetoric, and unity for love of country instead of single-minded conformism.
As always, we are grateful for the law enforcement community, namely our Department of Homeland Security brothers and sisters in the U.S. Secret Service, and all first responders involved. We continue to send our thoughts and prayers for the victims and families of the victims—of this horrendous crime—including our former-President and his family. Let us stay vigilant and defend our democracy in unison.
In Unity,
AFGE Council 100
Hydrick Thomas, President | Mac Johnson, Council Executive Vice President | Johnny Jones, Council Secretary-Treasurer | Thomas Schoregge, Region 1 V.P. | John Hubert, Region 2 V.P. | Janis Casey, Region 3 V.P. | Becky Mancha, Region 4 V.P. | Greg Biel, Region 5 V.P. | Bobby Orozco Jr., Region 6 V.P. | Joe Shuker, Region 7 V.P. | Victor Payes Martinez, Fair Practices Coordinator | Concetta Fialkowski, Women’s Coordinator