Violence in politics shouldn’t exist in America. Media, politicians, and the public need to totally denounce it.
This week, two young men reportedly attacked a mosque in San Diego, leading to three deaths before they took their own lives, according to police.
Law enforcement sources informed that one of the teens had taken a gun from his parents’ home and left behind a suicide note expressing racial pride. Additionally, anti-Muslim messages were found on a vehicle the teens were using.
The California Post mentioned that the assailants left a disturbing 75-page manifesto that targeted several groups, including Muslims, Jews, and LGBTQ+ individuals, while also praising historical figures known for mass violence.
It should be evident that this violence is unacceptable.
The victims and their families deserve compassion, support, and justice—not political arguments over the motives behind the incidents.
In this case, the motivations appeared rooted in anti-Muslim animosity and a wish to incite a race war to dismantle society.
Lately, some grotesque and disturbing acts of violence have seeped into politics.
High-profile incidents include the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, DC, in 2025, the public shooting of conservative youth leader Charlie Kirk in Utah around the same time, and the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
Particularly regarding the latter two cases, some in the media and online celebrated these killings, perceiving them as the demise of political foes.
This is disconcerting. It’s morally wrong and it’s pulling the country into a grim reality.
It seems obvious to many, but not everyone sees it this way. Kirk’s opinions, which didn’t match those of liberal and progressive ideologies, didn’t warrant his death. Similarly, Mr. Thompson shouldn’t have had to face lethal violence just for being part of a troubled health care system.
Neither did the victims of the mosque attacks deserve to suffer because of their race or faith.
All forms of political and ideological violence should be strongly condemned.
Of course, understanding the motives behind such horrific acts is important for preventing future occurrences.
However, no justification exists for vigilante violence. None at all.
As Americans, we ought to unite against the extreme haters and reject any rationalization for violent acts against those we view as adversaries. Political violence must be unequivocally opposed.
