Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this editorial do not represent the Minnesota Daily’s newsroom and are not necessarily representative of any individual on the Opinions Desk. This piece has been agreed upon for publication by a majority vote of all members of the Daily’s Opinions Desk.

In the era of political firebrands like President Donald Trump, it is difficult not to conclude that political violence is becoming normal. 

Many of us grew up watching political leaders lean into partisan narratives and personal insults, deepening the divide that pits citizens against each other. 

This divide came to a head in Minnesota with the fatal shooting of former Democratic state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, on June 14. 

These events, as well as the subsequent manhunt, shocked people across the nation, especially in Minnesota.

Tim Collins, a political science lecturer at the University of Minnesota, said outside of some demonstrations and unrest, Minnesota doesn’t have much of a history of political violence.

“We’ve had this reputation for ‘Minnesota Nice,’” Collins said. “Until this year, even, our legislature was a lot more collegial and nice, and there was some genuine bipartisanship that you don’t see a lot in state politics.”

Students in Collins’ political psychology course said they were shocked, sickened and in disbelief upon hearing the news of the attacks and Hortman’s death. 

Following the shootings, the question news organizations, politicians and citizens alike jumped to ask was which party the suspected shooter, Vance Boelter, 57, belonged to. 

Students in Collins’ class said they believed many people are desensitized to the fact that two people lost their lives in the attacks and jumped to politics instead of realizing the impact political violence has on both people and our society.

Political assassination should not be an act we can quickly attribute to any political party, regardless of polarization.  

Still, along with the speculation about Boelter’s political affiliation, some in the political sphere saw the attacks as an opportunity to confront political opponents. 

Olivia Hanson, a fourth-year student at the University, said in response to a Minnesota Daily opinions poll that Minnesota and the U.S. are taking on an increasingly dystopian feel.  

“The current administration is perpetrating so much hate that I’m afraid political violence will become a new normal,” Hanson said. “Not to mention the desensitization from politicians like Mike Lee, who seem to be encouraging the behavior.” 

In a pair of now-deleted posts on his personal X account, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, controversially directed blame for the attacks toward Minnesota’s Democratic leadership, calling the incidents a “Nightmare on Waltz Street” and writing, “this is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.”

Lee’s rhetoric parallels claims that Boelter was a Democrat hunting down disloyal party members, despite the fact that Boelter left behind a target list naming dozens of state and federal Democrats, along with abortion providers and pro-choice activists.

Collins said the numerous perspectives circulated on social media following news of the attacks reflected personal political biases, facilitating the spread of false claims about the shooter’s motives. 

“We’ve got to face the reality that this guy was a Trump Republican,” Collins said. “That doesn’t mean that all Trump Republicans are bad, but we have to acknowledge that and stop pushing the false narrative.”

Boelter expressed deeply religious and conservative beliefs, specifically regarding abortion, and attended campaign rallies for Trump, according to the Associated Press.

Despite a slew of divisive online rhetoric, many leaders from Minnesota came together to denounce those trying to distort the facts of the attacks for political gain. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith confronted Lee after his initial social media post, saying she wanted to let him know the pain his post caused her and her fellow Minnesotans.

Collins said the reaction from local lawmakers and news outlets was much more measured and respectful, with local Democrats and Republicans alike denouncing both the attacks and the false allegations being spread about them.

“Harry Niska, who’s in the House and was really a foil to Hortman, pushed back against people who were pushing false stuff,” Collins said. “I’m assuming he has gotten a lot of pushback as well from anonymous people online.”

Despite attempts at local unity, the attacks on two prominent state legislators are symptomatic of a deeply divided and increasingly contentious political climate in the U.S.

The increased frequency of politically motivated attacks reflects a disturbing trend towards violence largely incited by divisive political speech, both online and in person.

Drue Bower, a second-year graduate student at the University, said in response to the poll that Trump does not condemn political violence, but rather incites it, particularly against marginalized communities. 

“I’m very sad, but I’m even more fueled,” Bower said. “Her assassination, and the president’s response to being asked if he would reach out to Governor Walz, embodies how inhumane the executive administration is.” 

We are right to worry that violent rhetoric and actions are becoming normalized in our political environment. When people in power promote violence, the consequences spread far and wide.

“It would be ignorant to think that this political violence is isolated to one group or societal issue,” Bower said. “I wish that the University administration would be more outspoken and proactive about protecting all minority groups on and off of campus.”

We’ve been through this drill before. Following an act of political violence, sensible leaders from both parties release statements condemning violence, as it has no place in the U.S. 

But judging by the actions of the Trump administration and the rhetoric adopted across the country, those words are losing their power. 

Political violence, it seems, does have a place in this country. 

We must confront this fact and address our division and divisiveness. What happened to Hortman, Hoffman and their spouses may happen again, in a new place and with new tragic losses.

We must not let violence define us or drive us further apart.