Shots at politicians: Fear of political violence in the USA is growing!

Shots at politicians: Fear of political violence in the USA is growing!

In Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, tragic events shake the American political landscape. Both were fatally wounded in a targeted attack on Democratic politician Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman. Governor Tim Walz confirmed the bad news and described the incident as presumably politically motivated. The situation once again reflects the increasing fear of politically motivated violence in the USA, which has steadily increased in recent years, as Radio Hochstift reports.

Walz praised Hortman as a close friend and committed politician who had served in Parliament since 2004. In another incident, Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also seriously injured in Champlin, but there is hope for survival. While the police are searching for the alleged perpetrator, the case shows that security authorities must take increased measures for threatened officials, as threats are now part of everyday life for many politicians. This brutal reality not only affects the people affected, but also makes society as a whole sit up and take notice.

Political violence and its consequences

The incidents under investigation are not isolated cases. There was recently an attempted attack on former President Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a man with a rifle was spotted near the event but was unable to fire. The FBI's investigation is ongoing and the incident occurs in a clear context of increasing political violence, linked to the period of the upcoming election campaign. The Zeit reports on death threats and bomb threats that were triggered by a false report from Trump and that forced schools to close. Political violence has long since become a sad companion to election campaigns and causes great uncertainty.

Politically motivated violence has emerged as a result of deep divisions in US society. Historic events, such as the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, have lastingly shaken institutions and caused faith in the integrity of the electoral process to dwindle. Congress has lost influence and political tensions between Democrats and Republicans have reached unprecedented levels, which, according to an analysis by SWP Berlin, could lead to an impending crisis of democracy.

Futuristic views and the feeling of uncertainty

What will the coming year look like? Whether Donald Trump could seek another term in office or Joe Biden defends the presidency remains uncertain. Both scenarios could deepen the divisions in society. Political actors in both parties are aware that their actions are contributing to the erosion of democratic institutions. Many Republicans continue to disbelieve in the legitimacy of Biden's presidency, which calls into question the election and the legitimacy of political authorities.

This is also shown by the current increase in violence against politicians and officials. The shooting in Minnesota is an alarm signal for everyone who is active in politics and takes democracy in the USA seriously. Given these trends, a return to normality seems to be more in question than ever.