Political Violence Condemned After Attack on Gubernatorial Candidate
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has reacted to an incident involving Ohio Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, who was reportedly attacked while at a fair. Harris firmly stated that “political violence has no place in our nation.”
In a post on X, Harris expressed her horror over the attack, stating she was “horrified by yesterday’s attack” and felt grateful for the efforts of law enforcement and others who came to assist the injured. She specifically acknowledged Acton’s bravery in staying behind to help those hurt during the incident.
Harris wrote, “I am horrified by yesterday’s attack on Amy Acton in Ohio and grateful for the actions of law enforcement and others who helped—including Dr. Acton herself, who stayed to help attend to the injured. Political violence has no place in our nation. People must be safe to participate in our government and electoral process without fear of violence.”
This response followed a statement from Acton’s campaign detailing the frightening events at the Canfield Fair, where an armed individual lunged at Acton and injured several people. The campaign expressed gratitude for the prompt action of law enforcement and conveyed prayers for the injured, emphasizing that such violence is entirely unacceptable in Ohio.
A report from local news outlet WOIO-TV indicated that the attacker was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct. Witnesses described the suspect, armed at the time, being apprehended after allegedly knocking volunteers to the ground.
The severity of the injuries sustained during the incident was not detailed in media reports.
In an additional response, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy condemned the attack, describing it as “completely unacceptable and has no place in politics.” Connie Luck, Communications Director for Ramaswamy’s campaign, emphasized that “candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence” and expressed hope that no one was severely hurt as a result of the attack.
