As the presidents of Davidson College’s Democratic, Libertarian and Republican Clubs, we denounce in the strongest possible terms political violence in light of the murder of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s murder is one among many recent politically inspired violent attacks in the United States that cross partisan lines.
Over the years, the United States has seen an uptick in political violence. In 2017, Republican members of Congress were shot at during a congressional baseball game practice, which injured House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. In 2022, Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was attacked. Last year, we saw multiple assassination attempts on President Trump. Over the summer, we saw a horrific attack on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers. These are just a few examples of horrific political violence that have recently occurred in our country.
Our clubs may disagree on many policy questions and often on first principles. However, we are firmly united in our belief in a free marketplace of ideas, where individuals, especially students on college campuses, should be able to speak their minds without fear of violence or intimidation. We applaud President Hicks’s recent message to the college community in support of Davidson’s Commitment to Freedom of Expression, and we commit to upholding those principles as student leaders. We must remember that speech is not violence; violence is violence. We also reject, in the strongest possible terms, any statements by students or members of our clubs that minimize or mock any act of political violence, including the murder of Mr. Kirk. Above all, we urge our peers to not condone violence in any form. We should never excuse or celebrate violence, and we should honor the dignity of every human being, regardless of political affiliation.
In recent days, many commentators have asked how our political leaders can address the increasing political violence in our country. While our leaders must tone down their rhetoric and contribute to a healthier political climate, it’s also essential to remember that we can all take steps to contribute to a better political discourse. This can be as simple as talking to someone you disagree with politically. Additionally, we must remember the important principle of tolerance. People will always have disagreements with our worldview or say things we disagree with, but it’s important to recognize their right to do so. In fact, we should always be open to the possibility that our political views are wrong and be willing to change them once we acquire new evidence or information.
To support our message and to promote a culture of free expression at Davidson, we pledge the following steps: first, we will continue to invite speakers from across the political spectrum and collaborate on event rules that prioritize safety and student engagement. Second, we will not engage in harmful rhetoric that results in a culture of violence becoming acceptable. This will include new opportunities for our club members to come together to discuss issues in a respectful manner. Third, we will not abandon our commitments to free dialogue and open debate. Finally, we plan to work with the appropriate campus offices to review security practices at political and speaker events to ensure students feel safe coming out to share their voices.
As Davidson students, we must serve as an example that, despite intense political disagreements, we can coexist as peers and reject political violence and violent rhetoric. We must not contribute to the toxic political culture that has led to recent acts of political violence. We encourage our peers to reflect on this unfortunate time in our nation’s history and to ask how they can contribute to a better political climate at Davidson, as well as in our country.